Disney is delaying the release of its live-action Snow White movie by a year for a major overhaul, after star Rachel Zegler sparked anger with a tirade of wokefury.
Walt Disney announced the delay on Friday. The firm cited the ongoing SAG-AFTRA strike as the major reason behind the decision – but cynics point to upcoming reshoots as proof Disney bosses fear they’ve made a $330 million turkey.
Zegler, who plays the title role, also mired the movie in controversy by alleging the 1937 source material was creepy and vowing to ensure the remake was more progressive.
Over the summer, the film received negative attention after it was revealed by DailyMail.com that the Seven Dwarfs- iconic roles in the original film – were to be replaced by seven ‘magical (non-dwarf) creatures’ in an effort to keep the storytelling in line with the 21st Century’s commitment to political correctness.
They were seen on the set of the movie and included a mix of men and women of different ethnicities, with a real dwarf among their number. At first Disney denied these pictures were from the set of the movie – but eventually backtracked.
But in a new publicity shot, Snow White, played by Rachel Zegler, is seated and surrounded by seven CGI dwarfs, with the diverse originals nowhere to be seen.
It is unclear precisely what Disney is planning to do with the ‘magical creatures’ and original dwarfs.
Beyond the controversy about the dwarfs, several months ago, a handful of clips of Zegler speaking about the movie in a way audiences detested began to circulate.
Interviews showed Zegler making derogatory claims about the original Snow White movie and chastising the main character for her dated values.
Not only did the 22-year-old admit that she ‘hated’ the original 1937 movie, she also described the film’s Prince as a ‘stalker’ and branded the storyline ‘weird.’
‘I just mean that it’s no longer 1937. She’s not going to be saved by the prince and she’s not going to be dreaming about true love,’ Zegler Variety a year ago.
‘She’s dreaming about becoming the leader she knows she can be and the leader that her late father told her that she could be if she was fearless, fair, brave, and true.’
Speaking again at the Disney D23 Expo in California in September 2022, Zegler – bet known for her breakout role in West Side Story’ said: ‘The original cartoon came out in 1937, and very evidently so. There’s a big focus on her love story with a guy who literally stalks her. Weird! Weird! So we didn’t do that this time.
‘We have a different approach to what I’m sure a lot of people will assume is a love story just because we cast a guy in the movie,’ Rachel continued, referring to Andrew Burnap.
Read More: Disney delays release of $330M live-action Snow White reboot by a YEAR
