Disney’s highly-anticipated live-action reboot of “Snow White” has stirred up a storm of controversy and speculation with its recent announcement of a one-year delay, pushing the release date from March 22, 2024, to March 21, 2025. The decision has sent shockwaves across social media, as fans and critics alike have offered their own interpretations of the reasons behind the delay.
The initial rationale suggested by The Hollywood Reporter points to the ongoing SAG-AFTRA strike, which has led studios to adjust their theatrical release calendars for 2024. This explanation, while plausible, is not the only source of intrigue surrounding the delay.
The buzz around the delay has been further fueled by a promotional image shared by Disney, featuring Rachel Zegler as Snow White alongside seven CGI dwarves, reminiscent of the original characters from Disney’s 1937 animated classic. This image has raised eyebrows, as it appears to contradict earlier statements from Disney, which had indicated a departure from the classic dwarves in favor of “magical creatures” in an effort to avoid reinforcing stereotypes.
BREAKING: Disney is delaying Snow White until 2025 following backlash against the woke remake
It also appears that Disney has scrapped their “diversity creatures” in favor of CGI dwarves that look similar to the original pic.twitter.com/czTsNllpJF
— End Wokeness (@EndWokeness) October 27, 2023
Criticism of the original dwarf depictions, raised by actor Peter Dinklage, who has dwarfism, had prompted Disney to announce a change in the portrayal of the characters. Photos from the film’s production earlier this year showed “magical creatures” portrayed by people of varying sizes, races, and genders. However, Disney clarified that these photos were unofficial and did not confirm whether these actors were stand-ins or part of the final cast.
This new promotional image has ignited speculation on social media that the delay may be attributed to Disney’s apparent reversal, returning to the classic dwarf characters and abandoning the notion of diversifying the cast.
Conservative commentators and reporters have seized upon the image to claim that Disney is backtracking on its initial intent to include more diverse and politically correct elements in the film. They argue that Disney’s decision to revert to CGI dwarves resembling the originals reflects a response to the backlash that emerged online.
Yeah, they didn’t delate this because of the strike. They delayed it because they’re doing massive reshoots and/or it’ll take an extra year to replace the “diversity dwarves” with CGI versions of the real Seven Dwarfs from the 1937 movie. What a disaster. Walt’s spinning. https://t.co/mApGGiU68B
— Varad Mehta (@varadmehta) October 27, 2023
While conservative voices on social media have been quick to condemn the change, industry experts and observers offer varying opinions. Some suggest that Disney might be reshooting a significant portion of the film or replacing actors with CGI dwarves, a decision that could significantly inflate the movie’s budget and potentially impact its box office performance.
Amidst this flurry of speculations and opinions, Walt Disney representatives have remained tight-lipped, declining to provide immediate clarification or comment on the reasons behind the delay. As fans and critics continue to debate the implications of the new promotional image, it remains to be seen whether the live-action “Snow White” will ultimately deliver on the promise of a reimagined and more inclusive take on the beloved classic, or if the controversy surrounding it will continue to captivate the public’s attention until its eventual release in 2025.
