Disney is orchestrating a grand Hollywood premiere for "Snow White" on March 15, yet the studio has opted for a more modest approach with the iconic red carpet treatment that usually characterizes such events. The afternoon's festivities will unfold at the El Capitan Theatre, featuring a pre-premiere bash and screening, with the leading lady Rachel Zegler, portraying Snow White, and Gal Gadot, who embodies the Evil Queen, anticipated to grace the occasion.
However, unlike previous Disney premieres where scores of media outlets are invited to interview the cast and creatives, the red carpet this time will only cater to a select few photographers and an in-house crew. The studio remained tight-lipped about the reason behind this scaled-down arrangement, but the change comes amidst a cloud of controversies hovering over the Marc Webb-directed film, which is set to enchant audiences in theaters on March 21.
When Zegler, a Latina actress, was cast as Snow White, she faced scrutiny from a section of Disney's fervent but toxic fans. Additionally, Zegler, who shone in "West Side Story," stirred up a hornet's nest when she deemed the 1937 classic as "dated," highlighting the prince's "literal stalking" of Snow White. In an interview with Variety at D23 two years prior, Zegler asserted, "She won't be rescued by the prince. She won't pine for true love. Instead, her dreams are centered around becoming the leader she inherently knows she can be."
Peter Dinklage vociferously addressed the perpetuation of negative stereotypes towards little people in the movie's portrayal, expressing his astonishment during a January 2024 episode of the "WTF With Mark Maron" podcast. "I mean no offense, but I was genuinely taken aback," he remarked. "They boasted about casting a Latino actress as Snow White, yet they're still telling the tale of 'Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs.' Step back for a moment and reflect on what that implies."
Promptly after Dinklage's comments, Disney issued a statement to "Good Morning America," acknowledging, "To refrain from reinforcing stereotypes from the original animated film, we're adopting a different approach for these seven characters and have been actively consulting with members of the dwarfism community."
Zegler attributed the film's backlash to the profound "passion" people harbor for the original. "I see the sentiments towards this film as a testament to its passion," she conveyed in an interview for Vogue Mexico's March edition. "What an honor to be part of something that evokes such intense emotions. We can't always expect everyone around us to agree, and all we can strive for is to do our very best." (Quotes translated from Spanish to English by Variety.)
Moreover, global politics have inserted themselves into the narrative. Zegler has advocated for "free Palestine" on social media, while Gadot, an Israeli, has become a fervent supporter of Israel both online and in a fiery speech delivered at the Anti-Defamation League's annual summit in New York City on March 4. "I never anticipated witnessing people in the streets of the United States or elsewhere condoning, justifying, or celebrating the massacre of Jews instead of condemning Hamas," she stated, among other things.
Gadot, who had previously steered clear of politics, felt compelled to speak out after the Hamas attack on October 7.
In February, a protest comprising several dozen pro-Palestine activists gathered outside the Hollywood premiere of "Captain America: Brave New World," calling for a boycott of the film due to its depiction of the Israeli superhero Ruth Bat-Seraph, aka Sabra, portrayed by Israeli actress Shira Haas.
MAGA supporters also lambasted Zegler for her reaction to Donald Trump's reelection, with her Instagram post stating, in part, "May Trump supporters, Trump voters, and Trump himself never know peace." She apologized for her remarks two days hence.
The promotional plans for "Snow White" have included Gadot and Zegler presenting together at the Oscars, followed by Zegler's promotional appearance in Tokyo. Zegler and director Marc Webb will also visit Spain for the movie, with Zegler hosting a screening in New York City for the Broadway community.
Gadot appeared on "Good Morning America" on Monday to lend her support to the film.
Since its debut three months ago, the official trailer for the film has amassed 11.8 million views on YouTube.
