All the controversy around Disney's new 'Snow White' live-action remake, explained — as first reviews are unexpectedly positive
The 2025 "Snow White" live-action remake has been criticized for a range of reasons, from its casting to comments its actors have made.
Walt Disney Company
- "Snow White" is the latest classic animated Disney film getting the live-action remake treatment.
- While it is getting positive first reviews, it's been mired in controversies since production began.
- Rachel Zegler's casting caused backlash, as have changes to the characters of the seven dwarfs.
After the success of a slew of live-action remakes, a musical retelling of 1937's "Snow White" may have seemed like a slam dunk for Disney.
Instead, the $300 million reboot starring Rachel Zegler and Gal Gadot has been mired in controversies before even hitting theaters.
Like the original animated classic, "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs," the upcoming film is loosely based on the 19th-century German fairy tale by the Brothers Grimm.
But a number of key changes have drawn criticism, including casting a mixed-ethnicity actor in the lead role, and adjusting the characters of the seven dwarfs.
Channeling her character's grace and kindness, Zegler said in a recent interview that the backlash to the film comes down to the "passion" people have for the original.
"What an honor to be a part of something that people feel so passionately about. We're not always going to agree with everyone who surrounds us, and all we can do is our best," she said in an interview in the March issue of Vogue Mexico via Variety.
After years of backlash, film critics responded positively to "Snow White" on Sunday, when the embargo for first reactions lifted ahead of its Friday release. Several critics praised the film and Zegler's performance as Snow White.
Despite becoming an internet punching bag Disney’s remake of Snow White is actually mostly successful! Rachel Zegler is an absolute star, (most of) the new songs are catchy and beautifully performed, and the visual palette is sumptuous and vibrant. Gal Gadot had beautiful gowns.— Matt DeGroot (@mattdegroot) March 16, 2025
I may regret saying this but #SnowWhite is solid. I really enjoyed the musical numbers, particularly the opening one and the Queen's evil bop. Zegler was great in the lead role, and Gadot was fun. It's really the CGI dwarves that let the film down. The choice is baffling. pic.twitter.com/mERKrMYc44— Paul Klein
