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Snow White Returns With a New Cast and More Controversy Than Ever
Mirror, mirror, on the wall… Snow White is back, but not without controversy.
Disney’s live-action adaptation of its very first animated princess movie is set to premiere on March 21, 2025. With Rachel Zegler taking on the role of Snow White and Gal Gadot as the Evil Queen, the movie is directed by Marc Webb, known for The Amazing Spider-Man. At first glance, it seems like another magical reimagining of a beloved classic. But as more details have come out, the conversation around the movie has shifted from fairy tales to topics like casting choices, plot changes, and whether Disney is losing its magical touch.
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Meet the Cast of Disney’s Snow White
Rachel Zegler as Snow White
Rachel Zegler, who gained fame from West Side Story and The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes, steps into the iconic role of Snow White. In the classic animated movie, Snow White is made to work as a scullery maid by her envious stepmother, eventually fleeing to the forest and meeting the Seven Dwarfs. While the core story remains, this new adaptation makes significant updates to Snow White’s character, showing her as more than just a damsel in distress.
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Gal Gadot as the Evil Queen
Gal Gadot (Wonder Woman, Red Notice) stars as the Evil Queen, Snow White’s wicked stepmother fixated on being “the fairest of them all.” Gadot called the role one of her favorites, noting that she fully embraced the Queen’s dark and theatrical side. Her transformation into the old hag took four hours of makeup—a process she described as “incredible.”
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Andrew Burnap plays Jonathan
Instead of the traditional prince, Disney has brought in a fresh male lead, Jonathan, portrayed by Andrew Burnap (The Inheritance, WeCrashed). Burnap describes Jonathan as a “reluctant hero” who isn’t your typical fairytale prince.
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Ansu Kabia as the Huntsman
British actor Ansu Kabia (Miss Scarlet & The Duke, Murder on the Orient Express) steps into the role of the Huntsman. In the original tale, the Huntsman is tasked with killing Snow White but chooses to let her go, allowing her to escape into the woods.
Disney’s Snow White Has Sparked Debate Long Before Its Release
From the beginning, Snow White has encountered criticism, starting with Rachel Zegler’s casting. Many critics contended that casting a Latina actress in the role of a character described as having “skin as white as snow” didn’t stay true to the original story. The controversy echoed the debate over Halle Bailey’s casting as Ariel in The Little Mermaid, with some fans applauding diversity while others accused Disney of pushing political correctness.
Then there was Zegler’s own comments about the original movie. She called the 1937 version “weird,” criticized the prince for “stalking” Snow White, and seemed unenthusiastic about the remake in interviews. She’s not going to be saved by the prince,” Zegler told Variety in 2022. “She’s dreaming about becoming a leader.” This only fueled frustration among audiences who felt Disney was disrespecting its own legacy.
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One of the most unexpected changes was Snow White’s backstory. Instead of her name coming from her “skin as white as snow,” Zegler explained that in this version, the name comes from her surviving a snowstorm as a baby. This change, meant to distance the story from racial undertones, has sparked debates on whether Disney is staying true to its source material.
The movie’s portrayal of the Seven Dwarfs also sparked controversy. Initially, Disney intended to diversify the group by casting actors from different ethnic backgrounds. However, when set photos were leaked, the backlash came quickly. Many, including actor Peter Dinklage, criticized Disney for its stereotypical depiction of little people. As a result, Disney shifted to using CGI characters, which disappointed others who felt that real actors with dwarfism were being deprived of roles.
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Recently, a political split between Zegler and Gadot has made the movie’s reception more complicated. Zegler has been vocal in her support for Palestine, while Gadot, an Israeli actress, has publicly defended Israel. This divide has sparked calls for a boycott, with some people refusing to support a movie featuring an actress with conflicting political views.
Can the New Snow White Handle the Backlash?
The backlash over Snow White isn’t just about the casting or changes, it’s part of a larger frustration with Disney’s live-action remakes. Some view these remakes as progressive updates, but others argue they put too much emphasis on social messaging at the expense of quality storytelling. Critics have hit many of these remakes for not adding anything fresh while also distancing fans who cherished the originals.
Even before its release, Snow White has faced a wave of negativity online. The first trailer got over 1 million dislikes, and the movie’s $200 million budget has sparked concerns about whether it can make a financial comeback.
At the end of the day, Snow White has turned into a cautionary tale for Disney. Can it juggle modern storytelling with a nod to nostalgia? Or will it end up being just another remake that fades into the background? With the release date coming up, we’ll soon find out if Disney’s new take on Snow White will break the spell or become its latest mishap.
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