June 2021, when it was announced that Rachel Zegler took on the lead role in Snow White ( Snow White ) human version, Disney was fiercely criticized for the “out-of-standard” skin color of the Hispanic actress. Zegler has brown skin, which doesn’t match the “snow white” description for Princess Snow White in the fairy tale. Fans of the original were once again filled with disappointment when “The Mouse House” revealed Zegler’s Snow White look a year later.
However, the 2024 movie controversy doesn’t stop there. This time from the cast taking on the role of 7 Dwarfs.
Behind the scenes of the movie Snow White. Photo: BackGrid.
July 15th, New York Post world public opinion is “boiling” after the photo of Snow White and the 7 Dwarfs on the set was leaked to the media.
In the photo, Snow White’s stunt double walks in a meadow in Bedfordshire, England, followed by a group of people believed to be the Seven Dwarfs. Worth mentioning, apart from a person with short appearance, other people are no different from ordinary people, even some people are outstandingly tall. Moreover, they also have different skin colors, body shapes and genders.
Apart from the few who expressed interest in the modernized version of the 1937 cartoon, the majority of netizens shared the “unbelievable” sentiment in Twitter posts: “They should change the movie’s name to Snow White and the 7 diverse employees”, “How are they like dwarves?”, “It seems they don’t care much about dwarves and now they have a baby girl”…
Some people are angry because the film incorporates political and social elements that are forced and excessive, distorting the nature of the original work.
7 Dwarfs in the live-action version are far different from the original, not only in height but also skin color, gender. Photo: BackGrid.
One of the dwarves is a woman. Photo: BackGrid.
In the original cartoon, the 7 dwarfs are all men and suffer from dwarfism. However, Disney has announced that this important group of characters will be modernized, considered “mystical creatures” of all shapes, sizes and genders.
In early 2022, the actor Game of Thrones Peter Dinklage, a dwarf, criticized the famous studio for remaking the story out of date and insulting people with disabilities.
Above Deadline Disney responded that it was taking a different approach to the 7 Dwarfs, and consulted with members of the dwarves community.
In addition to Snow White’s skin color, height and gender 7 dwarfs, Snow White It was also announced that no prince will come to save Snow White, instead focusing more on the heroine’s journey to pursue her dream of leadership.
In the interview with Vanity Fair in October 2022, the female lead Zelger defended the film: “It’s an 85-year-old cartoon. Our version is the refreshing story of a young woman whose role goes beyond waiting for a prince to come to the rescue.”
Snow White and the 7 Dwarfs in the 1937 cartoon. Photo: Disney
According to NY Post