Disney Replaces "Woke" 'Snow White', Brings Back Classic

The backlash directed at The Walt Disney Company over its live-action Snow White film has been unparalleled.

When Disney announced that it would be making a live-action Snow White movie, there was already an amount of skepticism surrounding the project. This only grew following comments from Rachel Zegler (who plays Snow White) when she said that it “was not 1937 anymore” and that the Disney princess would not be saved by a prince in this version.

These comments went viral and were the subject of backlash from millions of social media users, as well as numerous petitions planning to boycott the upcoming film. As a result, Disney took a step back and delayed the movie by a full year, changing its release date from March of this year until March 21, 2025. Since that point, Rachel Zegler has taken a very different stance when talking about the movie, now calling the cartoon “iconic” in multiple interviews.

“The cartoon is so beloved. It was the first feature-length cartoon movie. It won honorary Oscars. And all these amazing things that happened for that film are the reason that you and I get to sit here today, because it made Disney what it is. Obviously, that’s come with a lot of pressure that I’ve put on myself,” Zegler told Variety. “Much like Hunger Games, there’s a very dedicated group of people who love Disney cartoons. I’m one of them. I love everything that the Disney Co. has put out in the past 100 years. So how do you put little baby Rachel at ease with what you’re doing in your career? How is it that you come to this role and make little Rachel proud? That was really what I used to fuel my emotion on that set. Because all the pictures are out there of little me in my Snow White gown.”

Not only has the promotional material begun to change for Snow White, but now Disney has partnered with LEGO to reveal an all-new Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs Lego Set. Interestingly enough, the LEGO set is based on the cartoon and will be released on March 4, 2024, just a couple of weeks before the live-action movie was supposed to be in theaters.

The set is $219.99, and LEGO Insider Access will run from March 1 through March 3. It comes with the cottage, all the original characters, the wishing well, and even Snow White’s death scene.

“A future princess named Snow White made a wish and captivated audiences worldwide in the first-ever, full-length animated Disney movie. It’s time to bring that sweet story home for a new generation with LEGO® ǀ Disney Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs’ Cottage,” LEGO’s official website says.

This is distinctly different from LEGO’s The Little Mermaid set, which was released last year and featured characters based on the live-action version of the film, including Halle Bailey as Ariel.

Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937) stands as a monumental achievement in animation history, forever altering the trajectory of The Walt Disney Company. It was not merely a film; it was a groundbreaking endeavor that pushed the boundaries of storytelling and animation. At its core, Snow White represented a daring leap of faith for Disney, who invested heavily in innovative technologies like the multiplane camera to bring the fairy tale to life in a full-length feature format.

The film’s unprecedented success was not just measured in financial terms but also in its cultural impact. Despite initial skepticism from the industry, Snow White captured the hearts and imaginations of audiences worldwide, becoming a cultural phenomenon. Its timeless story, enchanting characters, and memorable songs transcended generations, cementing its status as a beloved classic. Snow White herself emerged as an enduring symbol of Disney magic, captivating audiences with her grace, kindness, and resilience.

Beyond its immediate triumph, Snow White laid the foundation for Disney’s expansion into new realms of entertainment. The film’s triumph proved that audiences were receptive to feature-length animated films, leading Disney to diversify its portfolio and pursue ambitious projects. This diversification ultimately transformed Disney from a studio known for its short animated films into a multimedia powerhouse encompassing theme parks, television networks, and merchandise empires.

At this time, Disney has not released any more information on the upcoming live-action film.

What do you think Disney should do with the live-action Snow White movie? Let Inside the Magic know in the comments!