By Shaniya Siribandu, Student Guest Writer from Louisa County High School

For those who follow film, it has been easy to notice a recent trend of studios remaking animated classics into live-action reproductions. The latest movie to receive this modern retelling is the 1937 Disney classic, “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs.” The film has a new name – simply “Snow White – and a new spin on the story, with the latter creating a tense discussion within pop culture centered around casting changes and critical comments.

Released in March, “Snow White” features Rachel Zegler as Snow White and Andrew Burnap as Jonathan, the lead male role. While most movies make a full-court blitz for positive press during the production process of the film, the opposite has been the case for Snow White, with producers and cast members working their way through several different controversies.

First, Zegler’s casting received almost immediate criticism. Zegler, who is of Colombian and Polish descent, features a different complexion than the Snow White features in both the 1937 film and the Brothers Grimm novel written in 1812. In that novel, Snow White was described as having “Skin as white as snow.” While some comments have been genuine critiques of the casting decision and are anchored in a desire for the film to remain true to the original telling of the story, many comments, specifically on social media, took a darker and more racially prejudiced tone.

But, to her credit, Zegler has remained steadfast despite the discourse. “Extremely appreciative of the love I feel from those defending me online,” Zegler posted on X in July 2024. “But please don’t tag me in the nonsensical discourse about my casting. I really, truly do not want to see it.”

Zegler has also been clear in her stance with those who are critical of another aspect of the film: Snow White’s increased empowerment. Producers of the 2025 film have made it clear that in this retelling of the story, Snow White is no damsel in distress, but a powerful figure focused on her own strengths.
“The movie came out in 1937,” Zegler said in an interview with Elle. “So, there’s a big focus on her love story with a guy who literally stalks her. So we didn’t do that this time.”

And while some fans of the original film find Zegler’s comments and the movie’s new approach distasteful, there is no doubt that others find it refreshing. “Zegler is making a big deal about saying stuff like ‘This isn’t your stereotypical Snow White,’”

One final controversy surrounding the film has been the production studio’s move to use CGI to recreate the Seven Dwarves and not real actors. Disney said the decision was made to “avoid stereotypes,” a view not shared by members of the dwarfism community. Some view it as a radical departure from the spirit of the film, and also job opportunities that were needlessly neglected.

“It makes no sense to me,” said Peter Dinklage, an American actor with dwarfism, in an interview on Marc Maron’s podcast Reason. Dinklage added he was offended at the decision to use CGI because it took away acting opportunities for members of the dwarfism community.

So, while the success of the film is still yet to be determined, it’s clear that each viewer will have a decision to make. People deciding for themselves: now that’s a tale that is as old as time.

Jen Bailey

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