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Rachel Zegler says her ‘Snow White’ movie gives the princess’ name a new origin story

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Rachel Zegler says her 'Snow White' movie gives the princess' name a new origin story

As a movie enthusiast with over three decades of diverse film viewing under my belt, I find myself utterly captivated by Rachel Zegler’s journey as Snow White. Her resilience in the face of adversity and her unwavering commitment to reimagining classic stories for a more inclusive audience is truly inspiring.

In 2021, when Disney revealed Rachel Zegler as the main character in their “Snow White” remake, some viewers vowed to avoid the movie due to its perceived politically correct casting. These individuals felt that a Colombian actress was not suitable for the role because traditionally, Snow White’s skin is described as being as white as snow in the original tale.

So the production turned to some other history.

Zegler shared with Variety in a recent interview that the storyline she’s working on is a new take on ‘Snow White,’ in which Snow White survives a winter storm as an infant.

In this tale, the monarchs chose to call her ‘Snow White‘ as a symbol of her strength and endurance,” she explained. And indeed, the 23-year-old performer has demonstrated remarkable resilience in the face of criticism following her casting in the part.

Following Disney’s casting decision for Snow White, it appears that Zegler indirectly responded to critics who were against a Latina playing Snow White. In a now-removed Instagram post, she wrote, “Yes, I am Snow White, but no, I am not whitening my skin for the role.

The discussion about Zegler’s casting has resurfaced multiple times, even after a series of 2022 red carpet interviews. In these conversations, the “West Side Story” actress emphasized that her portrayal of the iconic princess would not involve spending her days longing for a man. Furthermore, she highlighted several aspects from the 1937 film as outdated, such as the prince’s behavior towards Snow White, which she described as him “stalking” her.

As a devoted admirer, I perceived Zegler’s assessment as a hint of disrespect towards the cherished animation – another indication that perhaps she wasn’t suitable for the part.

In a candid conversation with Variety, Zegler expressed her disappointment over the circumstances surrounding its taking, but emphasized her strong conviction that women are capable of achieving anything. She went on to say, “I truly believe that they can accomplish every single thing” in their pursuits. The romantic storyline is a crucial aspect, and despite rumors suggesting otherwise, it has always been part of our plans; we just didn’t discuss it on the particular day in question.

Criticisms resurfaced again last year, after the Daily Mail published unofficial photos taken on the set of the film. In the photos, a stand-in for Zegler was photographed along with her band of woodland friends — whose diversity in height and ethnicity some interpreted as a “politically correct” spin on the original “Seven Dwarfs.” The idea of casting little people had previously proven controversial after Emmy winner Peter Dinklage called out the “hypocrisy” of Disney being “very proud to cast a Latino actress as Snow White” while telling a “backward” story that makes caricatures of dwarf people.

The photos sparked more criticism on social media from people upset about the diverse casting, including Zegler’s, and the departure from the story’s classic canon.

At approximately that period, Zegler expressed gratitude towards her supporters for standing up for her and kindly requested they refrain from including her in further “meaningless discussions.” She conveyed this sentiment on her social media platform by saying, “I genuinely don’t wish to witness it.

Additionally, she shared pictures from her childhood where she dressed up as Snow White. Accompanying the images, she wrote, “I wish every child understands that they can be a princess regardless of their circumstances.

The Golden Globe nominee has garnered backing not just from her admirers, but also from other Disney princesses like Halle Bailey. Similar to Halle, who faced criticism for portraying a locs-wearing Ariel in the 2023 adaptation of “The Little Mermaid”, she too has experienced this support amidst scrutiny.

“we love you so much … truly the perfect princess,” she wrote to Zegler last year on X.

When “The Little Mermaid” was first shown in May 2023, Bailey shared a message with the young girls tuning in: “I simply want them to realize their value and know they belong in these environments. I wish for them to see themselves reflected in me on the screen. I’m merely grateful to be part of this.

90’s R&B superstar Brandy, known for her role as Cinderella back in 1997, shared a similar thought with Variety via email, encouraging Zegler to always keep her main fans in mind.

Brandy stated, “You aren’t assuming this role to conform to what critics expect, but rather for every young Colombian girl who hasn’t seen a reflection of themselves in a Disney princess. You’re doing this for the little girl you used to be, who didn’t have a representation of her Colombian heritage growing up. By taking on this role, you are demonstrating that dreams can come true for someone who looks like her, and that is the most significant task there is.

Zegler shared with Variety that she was raised in a home where they admired Brandy’s depiction of Cinderella as a servant who eventually became a princess.

She went on to say, “A child’s mind is truly incredible; it can effortlessly recognize that Cinderella is indeed Cinderella, even if she’s the one from the 1950s cartoon with blonde hair, blue eyes, and a blue dress, or Hilary Duff in ‘A Cinderella Story.’ In a child’s mind, they all embody the same character.

She shared that she understood such concepts when she was still young,” she expressed to the media, and she’s certain her audience can grasp them too.

I’m thrilled to share that I can’t wait for “Snow White” to grace the big screen next March, finally! The release was pushed back due to last year’s unexpected 2023 actors’ strike. Can’t wait to see it unfold on the silver screen!

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2024-10-03 02:33

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