Disney’s ‘Snow White’ Premiere Plans Shift Following Controversy And Backlash

Disney is set to host a Hollywood premiere for its upcoming "Snow White" film on March 15, but the event will be significantly more low-key than the studio’s typical star-studded celebrations.

The premiere, taking place at the El Capitan Theatre, will include a pre-party and screening, with lead actress Rachel Zegler and Gal Gadot, who portrays the Evil Queen, expected to attend. However, in a departure from Disney’s usual red carpet spectacles, media coverage will be notably limited.

Instead of inviting dozens of press outlets to interview the cast and filmmakers, Disney will only allow photographers and an in-house crew to capture the "Snow White" event.

The studio has not provided an official comment regarding the decision, but the scaled-back approach comes amid ongoing controversies surrounding the Marc Webb-directed film, which is set for theatrical release on March 21, according to Variety.

Since its announcement, "Snow White" has faced backlash on multiple fronts. Some Disney fans took issue with Zegler’s casting as the iconic princess, questioning the decision to cast a Latina actress in the role. The "West Side Story" star also drew criticism for comments about the 1937 animated classic, calling it “dated” and criticizing the original storyline in which the prince “literally stalks Snow White.”

In a 2022 interview with Variety at D23, Zegler emphasized the film’s modernized approach to the character. “She’s not going to be saved by the prince. She’s not going to be dreaming about true love. She’s dreaming about becoming the leader she knows she can be.”

The film also faced criticism from actor Peter Dinklage, who called out the story’s portrayal of little people, arguing that it still perpetuates outdated stereotypes.

"Literally no offense to anything, but I was sort of taken aback," Dinklage said on the "WTF With Marc Maron" podcast in January 2024. "They were very proud to cast a Latino actress as Snow White, but you’re still telling the story of ‘Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs.’ Take a step back and look at what you’re doing there.”

Following Dinklage’s remarks, Disney responded in a statement to "Good Morning America," saying, “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.”

As Disney’s "Snow White" remake faces continued scrutiny, lead actress Zegler is responding to the backlash, attributing much of the controversy to fans’ strong attachment to the original film.

"I interpret people’s sentiments towards this film as passion," Zegler said in an interview featured in the March issue of Vogue Mexico. "What an honor to be a part of something that people feel so passionately about. We’re not always going to agree with everyone who surrounds us and all we can do is our best."

Beyond the film itself, outside political issues have also drawn attention to its leading actresses. Zegler has been vocal on social media in support of "free Palestine," while her co-star, Israeli actress Gal Gadot, has become an outspoken supporter of Israel.

Gadot recently addressed the conflict in a speech at the Anti-Defamation League’s annual summit in New York City on March 4, where she condemned global reactions following the October 7 Hamas attack.

"Never did I imagine that on the streets of the United States, and different cities around the world, we would see people not condemning Hamas, but celebrating, justifying and cheering on a massacre of Jews," Gadot said at the time.

Historically, Gadot has avoided political commentary, but she has stated that recent events compelled her to speak up.

The increasing political divide surrounding Hollywood has also made its way into other films. In February, pro-Palestinian protesters gathered outside the "Captain America: Brave New World" premiere, calling for a boycott due to the inclusion of Israeli superhero Ruth Bat-Seraph (Sabra), played by Israeli actress Shira Haas.

Meanwhile, Zegler has faced criticism from MAGA supporters for her reaction to Donald Trump’s re-election. Shortly after the election results, she posted on Instagram, “May Trump supporters and Trump voters and Trump himself never know peace.” She later issued an apology two days later.