Amid Bad PR, Disney Pushes Release of Snow White Remake to 2025

The Disney+ logo is seen on the backdrop for the World Premiere of "The Mandalorian" at El Capitan theatre in Hollywood, Calif., on Nov. 13, 2019. Nick Agro/AFP via Getty Images

Amid negative publicity surrounding its live-action remake of the 1937 classic Snow White, Disney has delayed the film’s release date by a full year.

The movie, based on the 19th-century German fairy tale written by the Brothers Grimm, is now slated to open in cinemas on March 21, 2025. The film was previously set for release on March 22, 2024, but production was delayed by Hollywood strikes demanding regulation of artificial intelligence impacts to the industry amid the project experiencing more than one public relations setback in recent months.

The announcement came as the studio released the film’s first official still photo showing the heroine surrounded by what looks to be seven dwarfs, all of whom appear to be computer-animated.

The move seems to counter recent criticism from conservatives that surrounded so-called unauthorized on-set photos that were leaked. The photos showed the movie’s supposed “seven dwarves” played by a multi-racial and gender-diverse cast. Only one of the “dwarfs” looked to be an actual dwarf, while a woman was also among the group.

Heroine Rachel Zegler Critical of Original Snow White

Prior to this latest kerfuffle, the big-budget production received a barrage of less than favorable publicity when older videos of its star Rachel Zegler, 22, showed the actress insulting the 1937 original Snow White. Ms. Zegler essentially made the movie’s prince character out to be a “creepy stalker,” saying that women no longer desire romance in their lives.

“It’s extremely dated when it comes to the idea of women being in roles of power and what a woman is fit for in the world,” Ms. Zegler said during an interview with fellow cast-mate Gal Gadot, referring to the movie based on the Grimm fairy tale.

“It’s no longer 1937,” the actress said in another interview.

“She’s not gonna be saved by the prince, and she’s not gonna be dreaming about true love. She’s dreaming about becoming the leader she knows she can be, and the leader her late father told her that she could be if she was fearless, fair, brave, and true.”

It was in August that Ms. Zegler, while on the SAG-AFTRA picket line, demanded she be “paid for every hour” that the Disney film is streamed.

Ms. Zegler’s interviews have gone viral, instigating a swell of negative reactions toward the actress and the upcoming film from conservatives.

“In the recent past, actors recreating iconic characters and stories spoke of them in loving ways,” said conservative film critic Christian Toto, host of the Hollywood in Toto Podcast. “Even Drew Barrymore sang the praises of the original ‘Charlie’s Angels’ series, hardly a high-water mark for pop culture. It seems counter-productive to do the opposite.

“If Zegler truly feels that way about the original story, there are ways to address the subject in a more positive fashion.”

Modern Depiction of Dwarves in Spotlight

A plethora of criticism also occurred on social media after the leaked on-set photos surfaced, which resembled “multiracial hipsters” as some described them.

It was last year that the studio pledged to “avoid reinforcing stereotypes” with their remake of Snow White after Game of Thrones star Peter Dinklage, who has a form of dwarfism called achondroplasia, criticized Disney for putting resources into a “backward story.”

“Take a step back and look at what you’re doing there,” Mr. Dinklage said. “It makes no sense to me. You’re progressive in one way, but then you’re still making that [expletive] backward story about seven dwarfs living in a cave together.” (Some might say that they actually cohabitate in a cozy cottage).

The studio responded with a statement. “To avoid reinforcing stereotypes from the original animated film, we are taking a different approach with these seven characters and have been consulting with members of the dwarfism community. We look forward to sharing more as the film heads into production after a lengthy development period.”

Now, in response to Disney’s attempt to take the casting of the film in a “new direction” to “avoid reinforcing stereotypes,” it seems that CGI dwarfs have been selected over live actors.

“Welcome to some of the first images from Disney’s live action remake of Snow White and her DEI Dwarfs. Snow White is played by a Hispanic actress and there’s only one dwarf and 6 full gown adults,” tweeted president of the conservative advocacy group Turning Point USA Charlie Kirk.

“Disney has lost $900 million at the box office on recent films, and something tells me that figure is only going to worse,” he added.

Conservative podcaster and former director Robby Starbuck also threw in his two cents on the social media platform.

It remains unclear who the characters are in the previous leaked photos or if they will be in the movie when it is eventually released in theaters.

Stars and Their Freedom When Speaking About Characters

What is certain is the greater leeway stars have these days when speaking out about their roles and the characters they play, sometimes to the chagrin of the studio bosses, directors, or producers who hired them.

“This isn’t the days where studios micro-managed stars, down to who they dated or what they said in public. That’s good!” Mr. Toto said.

But he added the caveat: “Studios should also let their stars know that when they speak to reporters about their projects, it’s best to stay positive and consider how their opinions will impact the public’s curiosity for the stories in play.”

In terms of the film’s delayed release, Mr. Toto said it seems like a logical move at this point.

“It makes sense. One, the buzz has been all bad on the film; time may help heal this issue. Also, it seems obvious the delay will allow them to re-introduce the dwarfs into the story but via the less ‘offensive’ CGI route,” he said.