Snow White Premiere Faces Cutbacks Amid Controversies: What You Need to Know
The live-action Snow White film has been in development for some time, but ever since its casting was announced, it has been plagued by controversies. From issues involving lead actresses Rachel Zegler and Gal Gadot to concerns over disrespectful portrayals, it’s no surprise that Disney appears to be distancing itself from the film. With its premiere, Disney has opted for minimal publicity—an unusual move for the multi-billion-dollar company
The controversy started in 2021, even before any scenes were shot, when it was announced that Rachel Zegler would embody the Disney princess. At the time, Zegler was best known for her role as Maria in Steven Spielberg’s West Side Story remake, but her casting drew criticism for not aligning with Snow White’s traditional description. Many voiced frustration online over a Latina actress portraying a character described in the original story as “white as snow.” While the controversy was not Zegler’s fault, her later comments about the film’s feminist themes added to the backlash.
Rachel Zegler as Snow White in ‘SNOW WHITE’ pic.twitter.com/AwzeWi60DN
— DiscussingFilm (@DiscussingFilm) August 10, 2024
In a 2022 interview at the Disney Expo, Zegler and Gadot discussed the updated take on the classic fairytale. The West Side Story actress spoke about the film’s reimagined storyline, implying, “She’s not going to be saved by the prince, and she’s not going to be dreaming about true love. She’s dreaming about becoming the leader she knows she can be.” This statement made headlines, as some felt that the essence of Snow White was being altered to fit a politically correct narrative.
Many of the issues surrounding Zegler stem from public perceptions of the actress and the circumstances surrounding her casting. Her statements weren’t overly controversial, and with better media training before the film’s release, these problems could have been avoided.
As for the controversy surrounding Gadot, there was little Disney could do to mitigate it. The Israeli actress publicly voiced her support for Israel during the Gaza War, prompting calls for a boycott from those supporting Palestine, who opposed the film for promoting Gadot and her views. Since news of the Snow White film broke, Gadot has remained active on social media, speaking about the ongoing issues in the Middle East.
Your reminder to BOYCOTT SNOW WHITE! https://t.co/72JpOTeRNW
— AIPAC Tracker (@TrackAIPAC) March 5, 2025
Both actresses have played a role in the film’s challenges, but the studio is not without fault. Disney further fueled negative press by opting to use CGI for the iconic seven dwarfs. This decision missed an opportunity to provide meaningful representation for actors with dwarfism, who are often overlooked in Hollywood.
Despite these controversies, Disney has proceeded with the film’s release. The official trailer dropped in December, with the release set for March 21. On Wednesday, Zegler performed an original song from Snow White in Spain, marking the start of its European release.
As the press tour continues, it’s painfully obvious that the studio is trying to minimize publicity. With only a few red-carpet events, limited media access for interviews, and personal photographers, Disney has significantly scaled back its usual promotional efforts for a live-action film. The studio canceled a major UK event and chose instead to host a smaller performance at the Alcázar de Segovia castle, which inspired the original animation. The LA premiere has followed suit, with minimal interviews and press photos permitted.
On Saturday afternoon, March 15, the Los Angeles premiere took place at the El Capitan Theatre. Unlike the European premiere, both lead actresses attended the event. Zegler once again performed “Waiting on a Wish,” an original song created for the remake. The event was kept small, with little to no outside press coverage, except for Disney’s. Featuring a brief red carpet and a few kid-friendly activities to promote the film, Disney continued their strategy of keeping the premiere discreet.
Ultimately, whether the film was worth the controversy will only be determined after its release in theaters. One thing is certain: Disney must learn from these mistakes for their next live-action project.
Check out the official trailer for Snow White below.
