Disney’s upcoming live-action remake of the beloved animated classic “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs” has generated intense controversy in recent months due to reported changes being made to the original 1937 film. Set photos leaked earlier this year from the highly anticipated movie, slated for release in 2024, reveal that the seven iconic dwarf characters will be replaced by a more diverse cast of “magical creatures.”
This decision has sparked heated debate between those who believe the changes reflect a positive, progressive step towards inclusion and diversity, and others who argue altering such an iconic film is unnecessary and takes political correctness too far.
The remake, starring Rachel Zegler as Snow White, first made headlines last year when acclaimed actor Peter Dinklage criticized the original animated film for helping perpetuate stereotypes about dwarfs and little people. “Have I done nothing to advance the cause from my soapbox?,” Dinklage, who has a common form of dwarfism, said pointedly on a popular podcast.
In response to the criticism, Disney announced it would be taking a “different approach” to the way the dwarfs are depicted in the new live-action version. The first set of photos leaked online seem to confirm this new direction, showing Zegler’s Snow White wandering in the forest with a band of mythical creatures of varying sizes, shapes and genders, rather than seven short male dwarfs as in the original.
To supporters like Zegler and other progressives in Hollywood, the changes represent a thoughtful and inclusive update to a dated film. “It’s progressive and it’s what our world needs right now,” Zegler enthused to a reporter on set about the remake’s approach. Progressive critics have praised Disney for proactively ensuring its classics don’t perpetuate harmful stereotypes or leave marginalized groups feeling excluded.
However, other voices strongly push back against any substantial changes to the classic tale. Several conservative media outlets and op-eds have blasted Disney for what they call excessive political correctness and “giving in to the woke mob” by removing the beloved dwarf characters that have delighted families for over eight decades.
“The dwarfs are the moral center of the film. Erasing them unravels the story,” argued one writer who called the remake an “absurd new low” for Disney’s “wokeness.” Some fans online even threatened to boycott the movie for altering such an iconic part of the original.
The debate reflects wider culture wars as studios try to balance updating classic stories with retaining what made them so special and timeless.
On one side, advocates of increased inclusion, diversity and representation in media applaud the remake’s reported changes as an important evolution for Disney. They feel the company has a responsibility to avoid perpetuating harmful stereotypes as societal values change over generations.
“This is an encouraging step towards breaking away from insensitive and outdated depictions in older films,” wrote a columnist who praised Disney for listening to constructive criticism. “Studios can still honor their classics while portraying characters in a modern, respectful manner.”
But critics of what they deem “political correctness” argue such classic films reflect the time they were made in and should be preserved in their original form. Making substantial changes risks unraveling stories and characters that have resonated across cultures for decades, they say.
“Snow White without the iconic dwarfs would be like a Charlie Brown special without Snoopy,” opined one commentator. “Disney is erasing cherished parts of our shared pop culture in the name of wokeness. It’s shameful.”
Adding nuance, some analysts point out Disney likely greenlit the remake years ago to capitalize on popular live-action reimaginings of their classics before modern sensitivities came into play. They argue filmmakers are doing their best to thread the needle between staying true to the spirit of an old tale and adjusting parts that the passage of time has rendered outdated or insensitive.
For now, both sides seem firmly dug in regarding the Snow White changes. The remake, directed by Marc Webb ((500) Days of Summer), does not yet have an official release date but is expected to hit theaters at some point in 2024.
Until then, the heated debate over the balance between honoring an iconic work of art and evolving its elements will likely continue. Audiences will ultimately decide if Disney struck the right tone when the live-action Snow White finally premieres. But the controversy illustrates the challenges of breathing new life into stories crafted long ago.
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