Then, Game of Thrones alum Peter Dinklage — best know for his role as Tyrion Lannister in the HBO drama — blasted Disney as being “backwards” for their choice to cast a Latina actress — West Side Story‘s Rachel Zegler — as Snow White, while continuing to tell the story of “seven dwarfs living in a cave together.”
Disney responded to Dinklage’s comments with a statement that, in part, noted, “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.”
Now, some of Dinklage’s fellow dwarfs are speaking out saying they disagree with his assessment of the situation. First, paralympic swimmer Will Perry shared, “I don’t think we should cancel a fairytale that’s so well loved. Obviously so many people don’t love it for the dwarfs, they love the story, and, you know, innocently as well. So I don’t think it should be canceled.”
Now, some of Dinklage’s fellow dwarf actors are speaking out, claiming that his opinion could actually be detrimental to the dwarfism community, as the latest reports indicate Disney is completely removing the original versions of Happy, Dopey, Grumpy, Doc, Bashful, Sneezy, and Sleepy from the film and replacing them with “magical creatures.”
WWE and Muppets alum Dylan Postl wrote:
I forgot that Snow White and the seven dwarves was based on real life just like that HBO show with the dragons that made a certain “soapbox dwarf” rich was.
Anyone know who I need to get ahold of for the casting of this Snow White reboot?
I forgot that Snow White and the seven dwarves was based on real life just like that HBO show with the dragons that made a certain “soapbox dwarf” rich was.
Anyone know who I need to get ahold of for the casting of this Snow White reboot?
Postl went on to share some scathing thoughts about Dinklage, who he said is not “king dwarf”:
“It makes me so sick to my stomach to think that there are seven roles for dwarfs that can’t get normal acting roles, or very few and far between roles, and now they are gone because of this guy.”
“Peter Dinklage is the biggest dwarf actor probably of all time but it doesn’t make him king dwarf.”
Credit: HBO
Other dwarf actors also chimed in, noting their concerns about Dinklage’s commentary:
“Dwarf is a medical term,” Brooks said. “The condition I have is achondroplasia dwarfism. That is a fact. I am a dwarf.”
“I am hoping they cast Little People and give them the work… Peter Dinklage may be hurting the chance of some dwarf actors here,” he continued. “And it scares me that Disney would change a decision that big over the comment of one actor. They have been too quick here.”
Katrina Kemp was quick to agree and mentioned that if they decide to substitute the seven dwarves with CGI characters, that might be even more damaging.
At this time, Disney has not confirmed how it will be handling casting for the seven dwarfs in their upcoming live-action movie, which is also set to star Gal Gadot as the Evil Queen.
The beautiful and kindhearted princess Snow White charms every creature in the kingdom except one — her jealous stepmother, the Queen. When the Magic Mirror proclaims Snow White is the fairest one of all, she must flee into the forest, where she befriends the lovable seven dwarfs — Doc, Sneezy, Grumpy, Happy, Bashful, Sleepy and Dopey. But when the Queen tricks Snow White with an enchanted apple, only the magic of true love’s kiss can save her!
9
Credit: Disney
