Disney’s controversial “Snow White” hits theaters

It turns out Snow White may not be the fairest of them all. Disney’s latest live-action remake, Snow White, hits theaters this afternoon as one of the company’s most divisive and controversial projects in recent years.

The major disputes:

• Casting Rachel Zegler: Disney’s decision to put Ziegler, who is of Colombian descent, in the titular role drew pushback from some critics, who argue it strays too far from the source material (which describes “skin as white as snow”). Others criticized her portrayal of the original 1937 film in which she referred to the prince as “a guy who literally stalks [Snow White].”
• The Seven “Dwarves”: After actor Peter Dinklage framed Disney’s remake as a “backwards story of seven dwarfs living in a cave together,” the company announced it was making the characters CGI and referring to them as “magical creatures.” But that move was criticized by other dwarf actors, who accused Disney of depriving them of acting roles.
• Political tension: The film drew ire from both sides of the political aisle after both lead actresses – Zegler and Gal Gadot, playing the evil stepmother – expressed opposing views regarding Israel’s war in Gaza. Zegler also received criticism for her strongly worded anti-Trump comments following the 2024 election, for which she later apologized.

Looking ahead…Snow White is projected to earn ~$55 million domestically in its opening weekend. The film currently has a critics’ rating of 48% on Rotten Tomatoes.