The review was prepared by Gazeta.pl journalist Magda Walma.
When Disney announced that Rachel Zegler would be the new Snow White, the internet was flooded with disgusting comments about the actress’s skin color. There was no consideration of whether the Colombian-American star with Polish roots had talent or could sing. The focus was solely on her skin color, which was slightly darker than the fairy tale original. This discussion has resurfaced with the release of the film’s first trailer, but new "accusations" have also emerged.
Disney Released the 'Snow White' Trailer and the Debate (Again) Began
Snow White has already been portrayed in dozens of theatrical and film adaptations. The classic German fairy tale, recorded by the Brothers Grimm, became deeply embedded in the public consciousness thanks to Disney's animation. The animated Snow White from 1937 was a charming brunette with a childlike face and the pearly voice of 19-year-old Adriana Caselotti. Over the decades, this image has been challenged in various ways, but some things remained unchanged—Snow White was always played by fair-skinned brunettes. They didn’t always sing (like Kristen Stewart), and they weren’t always so innocent (like Riley Steele in the uncensored version of the story of the princess and the dwarfs), but at those times, few people were bothered by these issues. Only Rachel Zegler has faced her own online storm over her skin color, as there’s little else to criticize about her (she sang in "West Side Story" and is undeniably a petite brunette). What works against her, however, is that in the fairy tale, Snow White owes her name to her skin being as white as snow:
"Terrible choice for Snow White." "Seriously, if you can’t cast the whitest, prettiest actress, then don’t make the movie." "She doesn’t look white as snow..." - these are some of the many comments online under the trailer for the new "Snow White."
And so it goes—again, because this debate already ignited in 2022 when Disney announced who would play Snow White. Comments about Zegler's skin color have resurfaced, now amplified by additional elements noticed in the trailer. One could indeed pose a challenge for Disney, which in recent years has emphasized inclusivity in its productions.
Snow White Isn't White Enough, the Dwarfs Are Too Comical
The controversy also involves who plays the roles of the seven dwarfs. In the initial information about the film, this was left unmentioned, but viewers expected that Disney might cast actors of short stature, who would fit the roles visually and also serve as evidence that Disney's commitment to inclusivity goes beyond just words. Some commented that intentionally shrinking actors of average height would be offensive to those who could have naturally played the roles. At that time, Peter Dinklage, an actor born with achondroplasia and known for his phenomenal role as Tyrion Lannister in "Game of Thrones," spoke out. He expressed concerns without mincing words that Disney’s adaptation might once again portray the dwarfs as a comical element, even though they could have been adapted to fit a more progressive interpretation in today’s world:
"I was surprised when they were so proud to cast a Latina actress as Snow White, yet they’re still telling the same backwards story of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs," Dinklage said in a 2022 interview with Marc Maron. "So you’re progressive in one way, but then you’re still making that fing backward story about seven dwarfs living in a cave. What the f are you doing? Have I done nothing to advance the cause? Was I not loud enough?" he wondered.
Disney responded to the actor with a statement urging people to reserve judgment until the film’s release. "We are taking a different approach with these characters to avoid reinforcing stereotypes from the original animated film," it said. So, how did it turn out?
The first trailer for the production shows that Disney resolved the issue of the dwarfs in yet another way, trying to combine fire and water. They completely omitted different actors—the dwarfs were replaced by special effects creations, giving them an appearance closest to that of the classic animation from 80 years ago. All of them were portrayed by Martin Klebba, a short-statured actor who provided the body movements for the dwarfs. In the clips circulating online, the dwarfs dance with Snow White and don’t seem much different from the 1937 film at first glance.
"When we were filming 'Heigh-Ho,' I sang to nothing all day on set. (...) There were puppets there, on which special effects were later added. In the scenes, it looks like I’m throwing a broom randomly, but that’s how it works when you’re throwing things at computer-generated characters," Zegler said in a "Actors on Actors" interview with Variety.
In one frame of the trailer, it’s clear that not all the dwarfs will be male—one of the characters is dressed in an outfit that from afar resembles a long dress, confirming rumors from 2023 about gender modifications to the dwarfs in the fairy tale.
Politics Enters Disney's Set
As if "Snow White" didn’t have enough problems, another arose after the Hamas terrorist attack on Israeli territory in the fall of last year. Hamas murdered over 1,100 people, prompting Israel to respond with a brutal and bloody attack on the Gaza Strip. After several months of war, Hollywood was divided into two camps. One defended Israel’s right to self-defense, regardless of what was happening in Gaza due to Israeli military attacks. The other camp advocated for the liberation of Palestine from Israeli occupation. "Snow White" could not escape these divisions—Israeli actress Gal Gadot stands with her country, while Rachel Zegler has supported Palestine for several years. These irreconcilable differences have been pointed out by their respective followers, who argue that the two actresses shouldn’t be working together, as neither of them appears credible in their beliefs.
A Ray of Hope for "Snow White"
"Snow White" is another film that Disney has decided to remake, this time with live-action actors. Classics such as "Beauty and the Beast," "Aladdin," "The Lion King," and "The Little Mermaid" have already received similar treatments. These beloved animations have had varying levels of success in their live-action adaptations, but the ones that stir the most emotions are those where significant departures from the original fairy tales have been made. Almost identical to "Snow White," a similar debate occurred with "The Little Mermaid," in which Halle Bailey, a dark-skinned actress, played the lead role. In the case of "Snow White," one can expect changes to the fairy tale original—the screenplay is mainly written by Greta Gerwig, who in recent years has specialized in giving fresh takes on well-known stories ("Little Women") and creating entirely new narratives about independent female characters ("Lady Bird" and "Barbie"). Despite the controversy, intensified by increasing polarization in Western societies, Gerwig’s involvement gives hope that "Snow White" will be a new and more contemporary take on the old German fairy tale. And that will be regardless of the lead actress’s skin color.
