Disney’s Snow White premiere shrinks like a dwarf

LONDON: Disney decided to scale back the premiere of its upcoming live-action adaptation of Snow White, set to be released on March 21, amid significant controversies surrounding the movie.

The decision comes as the company faces backlash over its choice to replace the seven dwarves with computer-generated ‘magical creatures’ instead of casting actors with dwarfism.

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The move drew instant backlash from the dwarf community, who view it as discriminatory and harmful to their representation in the entertainment industry.

Snow White has also faced scrutiny regarding its lead actress, Rachel Zegler. Reports indicate that Zegler has been ‘causing’ significant ‘challenges’ for the media giant simply for stating her opinion.

Some Western outlets claim that ‘insiders’ within the company are ‘uncertain’ how to manage the progressive-minded actress. Zegler drew ire from netizens who apparently seem to have little else in their life to be enraged about by criticising the original 1937 classic.  

She labelled the OG movie’s traditional romance plot as “sexist” and “dated”. Despite being the movie’s star, Zegler was prevented from speaking to global press at a recent European event, causing many raised eyebrows.

While Disney has reportedly adopted a ‘cautious’ approach  (whatever that means) with Zegler, the company also scaled back the usual glitzy premieres in favour of a more controlled press events.

The decision to limit media is seen as a strategy to avoid unscripted moments that could lead to more controversy.

As the release date approaches, the movie continues to generate huge discussion, with critics ‘concerned’ that it ‘prioritises’ political correctness (or woke) over ‘authentic’ storytelling. What fails to be asked is why is there such a storm and anger regarding new ideas or people from different ethnicities getting limelight, when there are more pressing issues such as real life genocide, climate change, among other pressing issues that should be drawing this amount of anger and attention.

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The controversy surrounding Snow White is no different to mindless anger generated on which actress played a … mermaid!—a mythical creature no less!—in the live-action adaptation of “The Little Mermaid” (2023).

It also mirrors a disturbing trend of labelling anything ‘PC’ or ‘woke’ if it goes against or challenges the traditional norms and narratives. The amount of vitriol surrounding “Captain Marvel” (2019) and bullying Brie Larson received shows the issues with online anger and trolling: how easy it is to generate anger over a non-issue and how little thinking the general public would rather do; instead, they go along with the tide rather than questioning it.