With the announcment of the new Disney live-action Snow White movie, recent controversy has arisen surrounding the adaptations unique portrayal of the seven dwarves. As photos have come out regarding casting decisions and the new faces intended to portay this 85-year-old cartoon, backlash has insued regarding Disney’s decision to visualize the dwarves as different shapes, sizes, and genders.
Following the announcement that Snow White would be portrayed by actress Rachel Zegler, a Latina woman, many have criticized the remake for being “too woke” and made jokes referring to Zelger as the new PC Snow White. However, following the discovery that the dwarfs would also take on a re-imagined modern image, many are struggling to imagine a movie that deviates from portrayals of the original animated film. Disney responded to the controversy by expressing that the decision stemmed from an effort to avoid enforcing harmful and archaic stereotypes.
Prior to this acknowledgement actor Peter Dinklage, star of the popular television show “Game of Thrones” came forward on a podcast with Marc Maron expressing his disdain for the live-action adaptation. Following a discussion surrounding the harmful roots of the fairytale and the stereotypes it has reinforced against members of the dwarfism community, Disney expressed their choice to depict the seven dwarves in a different light, now instead referring to them as “magical creatures.”
Zelger has also come forward in defense of the decisions Disney has made for the live-action remake, expressing the importance of reinventing stories like that of the animated classic Snow White in an effort to be more inclusive.