A Modern Take on Snow White: Disney's Bold Challenge

Disney anticipated the risks involved in transforming “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs” into a live-action musical. Yet, in 2019, buoyed by the success of reimagining animated classics like “Aladdin,” “Beauty and the Beast,” and “The Jungle Book” with real actors, Disney felt confident. These remakes not only reinvigorated iconic characters like Cinderella but also redefined heroines once bound by dated ideals — encouraging empowerment and highlighting diversity through inclusive casting.

Why not tackle the classic tale of Snow White? Over the years, Disney had attempted to update her narrative — trying to evolve her from a helpless damsel prized for her “white as snow” beauty to a more complex character. However, screenwriters, even in the early 2000s, struggled to satisfactorily reinvent the story for a brand-conscious Disney. The original 1937 film presented other challenges for a modern retelling, including how to sensitively reinterpret the roles of the dwarfs: Happy, Sneezy, Sleepy, Dopey, Bashful, Grumpy, and Doc. (An earlier idea of making them kung fu fighters in China had been shelved.)

Nevertheless, Disney’s leadership was resolved to overcome these hurdles, spurred by fresh ideas and the relentless momentum of the remake phenomenon. At a 2022 fan convention, Bob Chapek, Disney’s then-chief executive, confidently predicted a live-action “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs” would be another hit.

Instead, “Snow White,” featuring Rachel Zegler, arrives in theaters as one of Disney’s most problematic projects. It stands as a cautionary tale about cultural relevance — showing how an effort to resonate with the times can turn an otherwise harmless film into a battleground for competing interests. The project encountered nearly every possible set back, highlighting the inherent dangers of high-budget filmmaking in an unpredictable world and the risks associated with persistently leveraging existing intellectual properties.