Snow White’s Disastrous Disney Remake: What Went Wrong?

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It seems that even a company as renowned as Disney is discovering that not all publicity is beneficial, and this has become especially evident with their recent release of the live-action adaptation of Snow White. Despite earning $42.2 million during its opening weekend at the box office, it’s clear now that the film was destined for trouble, with a budget of $270 million and an uphill battle ahead to achieve any success. The film’s recent controversies have certainly played a role in its performance, but the truth is that Snow White was doomed from the outset due to misfortunes during its development, production, and promotion phases. In this case, the movie has become a stark example of negative news surrounding a film tainting it from the start, leaving audiences uninterested before they’ve even had a chance to see it. If only Disney’s “mirror mirror” could have foreseen this.

Regarding Disney’s live-action remakes (which we’ll delve into further), it’s important to note that the creation of Snow White began with sincere intentions, as relative newcomer Rachel Zegler was cast for the role. Notably, she had just won a Golden Globe for her role in Steven Spielberg’s West Side Story adaptation, making her debut on the big screen. Despite her limited industry experience and being fresh out of high school, where she was chosen to play Spielberg’s Maria, Zegler demonstrated an impressive range and vocal talent that made her a fitting choice for a live-action musical rendition of Snow White.

It’s been announced that Spielberg advocated for Zegler to play the lead role, and it’s clear why as she is an undeniable talent. Gal Gadot was selected as the Evil Queen, making her an excellent choice given her ability to instantly convey a villainous presence with her icy gaze. The selection of the leading roles seemed uncontroversial until online criticism, especially about Zegler’s casting, became quite vocal.

Rachel Zegler’s Casting Led to a Barrage From Racist Internet Trolls

Due to Zegler not having very pale skin like snow, being Colombian made her a quick target for racist online critics who were unhappy about her landing the main role. Regrettably, this scenario often arises when characters, usually depicted as Caucasian in popular culture, are played by actors of color. Disney has also experienced this issue, as the selection of Halle Bailey, an African American actress, to play Ariel in the live-action version of The Little Mermaid was met with similar racially charged criticism.

It seems some people might believe Snow White is a historical figure, which could explain their discomfort about a Latina actress playing the character. However, Snow White is fictional and open to interpretation by any race. Regrettably, Zegler encountered a wave of racist remarks during the movie’s premiere weekend, an unwanted negativity that surfaced once she was chosen for the role.

Some might argue that they weren’t being prejudiced towards Zegler, but rather displeased with Disney for casting a Latina as Snow White to appear progressive. Admittedly, Disney’s approach to these issues can feel performative at times, but the internet backlash against Zegler went beyond mere discontent over Disney’s perceived wokeness. Many comments were blatantly racist, and while Disney publicly supported their casting decision, it appeared as though they didn’t take adequate steps to shield Zegler from the storm of criticism.

In an interview about the movie, Zegler’s comments on the outdated portrayal of Snow White added to the controversy surrounding her casting. She explained that the princess wouldn’t need saving by a prince or wait for true love, which only stirred up more criticism among those who were already targeting her based solely on her race.

Supporters of the initial movie and Disney enthusiasts criticized Zegler for her remarks, claiming she lessened the influence of the original film. This sparked even more debate, which intensified when, during the debut of the film’s trailer at D23 in 2024, she expressed gratitude to fans and then posted a separate tweet that said, “And never forget, free Palestine.” Since then, numerous articles have been published about this incident, and it was recently disclosed that producer Marc Platt traveled to New York to discuss the post with Zegler.

The movie has been struggling at the box office due to the controversy surrounding it, with the public backlash against its stars Zegler and Gadot playing a significant role. Before the film was even released, attention shifted towards their personal political stances, as Gadot (an Israeli actress) had expressed support for Israel, which drew attention, while her Walk of Fame ceremony was interrupted by pro-Palestine demonstrators.

Problems With ‘Snow White’ During Production & Post-Production

The movie encountered multiple setbacks during production. A picture surfaced of what was intended to be the revamped seven dwarfs, which led Peter Dinklage to criticize Disney for it, prompting a public response and a shift in direction, turning the characters into CGI. Additionally, the film faced numerous postponements due to the COVID-19 pandemic, adjusting the timeline so Zegler could participate in the 94th Academy Awards (an event she wasn’t originally invited to, despite being part of the Oscar-nominated West Side Story), and a fire broke out at Pinewood Studios that damaged the set.

Initially, rumors surfaced that the budget was escalating beyond expectations and the actual expense of $270 million didn’t align with the original plan for the film. The last hurdle arose when the movie was postponed by an entire year from its initial release date in March 2024, citing the SAG-AFTRA strike as the reason for the delay.

Before the movie’s premiere, many stories related to pre-release controversies became public knowledge, even before Disney announced a scaled-back opening due to avoiding press inquiries about these issues. Unfortunately, the film was met with negative buzz, causing potential viewers to hesitate spending their money on it. Once people hear too much about a project, especially when the news is unfavorable, they often feel less inclined to watch it.

Despite the numerous controversies surrounding the film and the general skepticism towards every new live-action Disney release due to past perceptions of them as money-making endeavors, audiences are becoming increasingly discerning about which ones they choose to watch. For example, while the upcoming “Lilo & Stitch” is expected to be a massive success based on its record-breaking trailer views and audience interest, not every live-action Disney adaptation is likely to generate such enthusiasm. If it doesn’t stand out in some way, audiences might choose to ignore it.

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2025-04-02 04:02