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Credit: DisneyDisney’s live-action Snow White remake is less than two weeks away from its March 21, 2025 release, but the journey to this moment has been far from seamless. While the film, directed by Marc Webb, stars Rachel Zegler and Gal Gadot as Snow White and the Evil Queen, respectively, the production has been surrounded by controversy since its inception.
One of the main points of contention in the live-action Snow White lies in its departure from the 1937 classic. Written by Barbie director Greta Gerwig and Erin Cressida Wilson (The Girl on the Train), this version of the tale has drawn ire for its contemporary spin, particularly Zegler’s comments about Snow White’s lack of interest in romance.
The actress’s remarks about how the princess doesn’t wait for a prince to “save” her have not gone unnoticed, with many fans feeling that the new approach disrespects the original narrative.
Zegler, however, has explained that much of the backlash stems from the passion fans have for the 1937 film. But with the film already facing hurdles, it remains to be seen whether this strategy will be enough to sway fans when it hits theaters a year later than initially planned.
From problematic remarks about the story’s portrayal of dwarfs to casting choices and even the leading actress’s comments about the original animated film, Snow White has a lot of ground to cover if it wants to win over skeptical audiences.
With a reported budget nearing $300 million (according to Forbes), expectations are high, but projections suggest a potential $53 million domestic opening—certainly not disastrous, but disappointing for a Disney flagship project.
The chemistry between Zegler and Gadot, showcased during their presentation at the 97th Academy Awards, did little to allay concerns about the film’s reception. If their dynamic on stage is any indicator, the upcoming film may struggle to generate warmth between its characters.
Now, Disney has officially dropped a history-making scene just 10 days before the movie is set to hit theaters. In the scene, Snow White (Zegler) and the Evil Queen (Gadot) meet to discuss the people of the kingdom’s needs.
Those familiar with the original Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs from almost 90 years ago will notice that this differs from the animated movie because the pair are never seen on screen–with the queen in her real form–during the film.
IGN (@IGN) shared the scene, which is titled “I Feel They Need Some Kindness,” and can be viewed here.
The film will, of course, include the iconic scene of the Evil Queen as the crone handing Snow White the apple, and this scene about apple pies connects the dots and gives justification as to why Snow takes the apple and eats it.
The Latest Main Character Adjustment
Another shift from the original is in the prince’s role, or rather, the absence of the traditional prince altogether. The character of Jonathan, played by Andrew Burnap, takes center stage as a replacement for the original prince. For weeks, audiences were only offered brief glimpses of Jonathan in the trailer, leaving many to wonder about his backstory.
“When writing the script, we went back to the Walt Disney Archives to understand how Walt brought Snow White to life,” Webb said (via The Direct). “It was humbling to see the amount of work and care that went into the making of that magnificent piece of art.”
“One sketch that didn’t make it into the original film—about the Prince being held in the dungeon—really stuck with me,” he added. “It was a storyline that Walt never got to complete to his satisfaction. So, in a sense, Jonathan was our effort to pick up where he left off.”
Webb’s comments, in contrast to Zegler’s dismissal of romance, suggest that love will still be at least part of the narrative. “We’ve been careful to preserve the iconography of Snow White that we love while also exploring Snow White’s romance and romantic relationship a bit more deeply,” Webb said.
Burnap (Under the Banner of Heaven) provided further insight into his character. “Jonathan finds himself quite disillusioned with the power structures of the world he lives in and is part of a certain resistance to those power structures,” Burnap explained. “When we meet him, he is just looking for a reason to find a sense of fight in himself again, that sense of hope that seems to be missing from the world.”
The cast also includes Ansu Kabia as the Huntsman, Jeremy Swift as Doc, Andrew Barth Feldman as Dopey, Tituss Burgess as Bashful, George Salazar as Happy, Martin Klebba as Grumpy, Andy Grotelueschen as Sleepy, and Jason Kravits as Sneezy.
With just weeks until Disney’s Snow White hits theaters, the film will face intense scrutiny as it attempts to carve its own path while dealing with a legacy of high expectations. Fans, however, will get to see how all the pieces fit together when the film opens on March 21, 2025.
How do you feel about the new storylines in Disney’s Snow White? Let Inside the Magic know in the comments down below!