From Fairest to Foul: Disney’s Controversial Snow White Remake
The New Snow White Disney’s Epic Fail – It’s not often you see a movie stumble this badly. But Disney’s 2025 Snow White, directed by Marc Webb (The Amazing Spider-Man), is one of the most talked-about—and not in a good way—film disasters in recent memory.
What was billed to be a fresh, empowering update to the 1937 animated classic turned into a confusing, controversial reimagining that disappointed longtime fans and new viewers alike.
Let’s break down what went wrong.
💬 “It’s Not 1937 Anymore”: Rachel Zegler’s Comments Spark Backlash
Rachel Zegler, cast as Snow White, didn’t do the film any favors during press rounds. In multiple interviews, she referred to the original movie as “extremely dated” and said the Prince in the original was “a guy who literally stalks her.”
Watch the full clip here:
🎥 Zegler on the Prince being a “stalker”
These comments came across as dismissive of the film that made Snow White a cultural icon. The original 1937 version was the first full-length animated feature in history and remains beloved for its sincerity and innocence. Many fans felt Zegler’s remarks showed a lack of respect for the story and its fans.
On social media, backlash exploded. One user on X (formerly Twitter) wrote:
“Why even do a Snow White remake if you hate everything about Snow White?”
Ouch.
🧝♂️ Snow White Where Are the 7 Dwarfs?
One of the biggest head-scratchers: Disney scrapped the Seven Dwarfs and replaced them with CGI “magical creatures.”
This change was prompted by actor Peter Dinklage, who criticized the 1937 original for portraying “seven dwarfs living in a cave together.” Dinklage told Marc Maron’s WTF Podcast:
“They’re trying to be progressive… but then they still make that backwards story about seven dwarfs living in a cave together?”
🎧 Source – WTF Podcast Interview
In response, Disney announced they would be taking a “different approach” by using a mix of actors and CGI “magical creatures”—but fans didn’t buy it. The result was a set of forgettable, oddly designed characters that lacked the heart and charm of the originals.
Even longtime Disney fans were confused.
“They replaced iconic characters with weird CGI blobs,” one fan wrote on Reddit. “This isn’t Snow White—it’s just… generic fantasy.”
🌍 Snow White – Politics Overshadow the Movie
Unfortunately, the film got caught in the middle of a geopolitical storm. Rachel Zegler has been publicly supportive of Palestinian causes, while co-star Gal Gadot (who plays the Evil Queen) is a proud Israeli who served in the IDF. Gadot has posted several pro-Israel statements, which clashed with Zegler’s views.
The tension between the two sparked online debate and even calls for boycotts from both sides of the political spectrum. Disney remained silent for much of the controversy, which only added fuel to the fire.
👑 Gal Gadot’s Evil Queen: All Looks, No Bite
Gal Gadot certainly looks the part of the Evil Queen. But her performance was held back by a lackluster script. She’s never given anything juicy to sink her teeth into, and most of her dialogue feels tame and dull.
Critics were quick to point this out.
“Gadot’s Evil Queen has all the visual glam, but none of the menace,” wrote IndieWire in their review. “She’s more fashion icon than villain.”
🔗 IndieWire Review
🧙♂️ Too Much CGI, Not Enough Heart
From the forest to the creatures to the Queen’s castle, Snow White leans way too hard into CGI. And not the good kind. A lot of it looks like it belongs in a video game cutscene.
The Hollywood Reporter described the visuals as “over-designed and emotionally flat.”
🔗 Hollywood Reporter Review
Instead of building a whimsical, storybook world, the film ends up feeling cold and artificial—completely missing the warmth and charm of the original animation.
🎬 Small Premiere, Big Red Flags
Usually, Disney rolls out the red carpet for its live-action remakes. But not this time. The studio opted for a small, quiet premiere, which many saw as a red flag. It felt like Disney was trying to hide the film instead of celebrating it.
Insiders told Variety that Disney was “concerned about the press overshadowing the film’s release.”
🔗 Variety on the Snow White Premiere
🧠 What This Means for Future Disney Remakes
The failure of Snow White is a big warning sign—not just for Disney, but for Hollywood. Audiences want stories that respect the past while feeling fresh. But fresh doesn’t mean tearing down the source material.
Trying to modernize fairy tales by stripping away what made them special just doesn’t work. When studios lose sight of what people loved in the first place, they end up with projects like this—messy, confused, and deeply out of touch.
⭐ Final Verdict: 1/5 Stars
Disney’s Snow White (2025) is a stunning misfire. It’s a film that’s too caught up in trying to make a statement and forgets to be magical. From political drama to poor writing, over-the-top CGI to tone-deaf updates, this movie feels more like a missed opportunity than a modern fairy tale.
If you’re looking for the real magic? Stick to the 1937 classic. It still has more heart, charm, and soul than this entire remake.
🖥️ Watch the original Snow White on Disney+
🎬 Follow Snow White (2025) buzz on IMDb
📲 Rachel Zegler on Instagram | Gal Gadot on Instagram