First Image of Rachel Zegler in ‘Snow White’

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(Center) Rachel Zegler as Snow White in ‘Snow White.’ Photo: Disney.

Preview

A first look at Rachel Zegler as Snow White has been released.
It also offers our first glimpse of the Dwarves.
The film, directed by Marc Webb, is now being released in 2025.

It’s been talked about for a while now, but at last we’re getting our first proper look at ‘West Side Story’ star Rachel Zegler in Disney’s new live-action take on ‘Snow White and the Seven Dwarves,’ simply entitled ‘Snow White.‘

Yet the image comes with a drawback, as the studio has announced that the movie will now be released a year later than planned.

What’s the story of ‘Snow White’?

‘Barbie’ Director/Writer Greta Gerwig attends a Photo Call at Bondi Beach in Sydney, Australia. Photo Credit: Caroline McCredie Photography.

Adapted from both the original fairytale and Disney’s acclaimed 1937 animated adaptation (which launched the studio’s reputation for cartoon movies), the new film will have a script from Greta Gerwig and Erin Cressida Wilson that eschews the usual romantic subplot in favor of Snow White becoming the leader her father encouraged her to be.

So, in this case, the “fairest of them all” means something different.

Who else is in ‘Snow White’?

Gal Gadot attends the Netflix’s Tudum: A Global Fan Event 2023 at Fundação Bienal de São Paulo on June 17, 2023 in Sao Paulo, Brazil. Photo by Alexandre Schneider/Getty Images for NETFLIX.

Disney has yet to confirm who is playing the dwarf characters, but we do know that the cast includes Gal Gadot as the Evil Queen, Ansu Kabia as the Huntsman and Andrew Burnap as a new character named Jonathan.

Dwarf controversy

(L to R) Haley Bennett as Roxanne, and Peter Dinklage as Cyrano in Joe Wright’s
‘Cyrano,’a Metro Goldwyn Mayer Pictures film. Photo credit: Peter Mountain. © 2021 Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Following an outcry about the use of dwarf characters, not least of which was from Peter Dinklage (who said, “You’re still making that f*****g backwards story about seven dwarfs living in a cave together, what the f*** are you doing, man?” on Marc Maron’s ‘WTF’ Podcast), Disney responded with an official statement on the matter.

Here’s what the studio said:

“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. We look forward to sharing more as the film heads into production after a lengthy development period.”

Now, of course, we can see for ourselves –– and honestly, they’re a little terrifying, walking the edge of the uncanny valley. Of course, movies have been in this situation before: there was the backlash over the initial look of ‘Sonic the Hedgehog,’ so the filmmakers have time to work on the characters before ‘Snow White’ is released.

And talking of the movie’s release…

When will I see ‘Snow White’ in theaters?

For those who had been eagerly awaiting more news about the live-action version of the story, there is a bad news side to the good news/bad news equation –– Disney has announced that the movie is going to be delayed, presumably a knock-on effect from the actors’ strike’s impact on the studio’s schedules.

Once targeted for a March 22nd, 2024, release, the movie will now be in theaters on March 21st, 2025. Does that make you grumpy?