The casting of Snow White in the live action movie has stirred up quite a bit of controversy regarding the cast for the main role and I’m completely here for the hate. Rachel Zegler is an insufferable actress who continues to neglect the character, and seriously needs media training. In interviews she comes across as hateful and judgmental towards the original film and its cultural roots. Along with her not fitting the original character’s persona, do you see the resemblance? Because I don’t.
Snow White, as shown in the 1937 film, is sweet, innocent, and radiates a sense of purity that seems to be missing in the new movie. Rachel Zegler is undeniably beautiful but her portrayal of Snow White doesn’t capture the gentle charm that made the character so beloved.
She was described as having “skin ‘as white as snow’, lips ‘red as blood’, and hair ‘black as ebony.’” While this is an iconic line from the original movie, Zegler said this phrase will be modified in the live-action and the character’s name isn’t based on her physical appearance, but rather her “resilience.” It makes no sense to me how “Snow White” means resilience, but whatever you say Rachel. While it is an important trait to show in the movie, why are we reading between the lines? After only seeing the trailer, I’m already disappointed. GR Student, Emily Hochman said, “a remake shouldn’t change the original and honestly, after seeing the trailer I wasn’t excited to see the movie anymore” which I completely agree with. Why are we calling a new plotline a remake? Since she’s wearing the same dress and tried to pull off the classic bob hairstyle? She looks more like Lord Farquad. It’s one thing to modernize, but it feels like the essence of Snow White is being completely lost in the process.
Aside from appearances, Rachel Zegler was never a fan of the original story. She criticized the fairytale, provoking traditionalists by saying it was “weird” that a prince “stalked” Snow White, insisting that the plotline had to be altered. Also stating, “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. She’s dreaming about becoming the leader she knows she can be.” Literally the entire plot of Snow White is about a princess who gets saved by her prince, not some identity crisis teenager trying to be a leader. It’s okay if Snow White wasn’t her favorite princess growing up, but Zegler should be playing the role for all the little girls out there who love the original movie. For that reason alone, she should have at least some respect for the character.
In a 2022 interview, Zegler aggravated fans yet again, “I was scared of the original cartoon. I think I watched it once and then I never picked it up again” and continued to complain how she hated the fan favorite Snow White Disney ride. Blabbing on, Zegler said, “I watched it for the first time in 16 or 17 years when I was doing this film.” The audacity to take the role of a princess who she didn’t even watch for over a decade, was ridiculous to me. My question is, why did Zegler even take the role if she doesn’t remotely like Snow White? The director should have chosen a better actress who adored the movie and dreamed of playing the princess. There’s a difference between loving your role and having your role.
Actress Ellie Fanning, who played Princess Aurora, described taking on the role of a princess perfectly. After releasing the movie Maleficent, she said, “I think a lot of Disney films, when the sequel comes out, they expect the princess to be in armor and have a sword and fight and ‘oh that makes her strong’ but I think the re’s a strength in her femininity and softness. There’s nothing wrong with her wanting to be a mother and to be married, I think there’s a beauty in that that is still strong.” Now Ellie Fanning was someone who deserved to play a princess, take notes Zegler because you’re certainly not on the right track. Snow White deserves better.
Personally, I think Zegler’s co-star Gal Gadot, casted as the Evil Queen, resembles Snow White’s traditional description better. GR student, Avery Schwartzel, stated, “Part of Snow White’s story is her appearance, changing her looks changes the story” Gadot is believed to be one of the most beautiful women in the world. According to Mensjournal.com, Godot is described as a model who embodies classical beauty, which would be a perfect fit for our classic princess. When comparing Gal Gadot to Rachel Zegler, I don’t see how Zegler is considered to be ‘the fairest of them all.’ Her competition is literally Wonder Woman. So, long live the Evil Queen because that magic mirror was lying to her face, she’s without doubt the most beautiful of the land.
Adding onto Zegler’s partake in ruining the plot, while I’m not against changing the storyline for the sake of inclusion, I’m opposed to overlooking the cultural significance of the original. The Story of Snow White was first written by the Brothers Grimm and published in 1812. Personally, I see Snow White’s story as a relic, showing German beliefs and old beauty traditions that are over 200 years old. I feel like Zegler not fitting those standards is leaving a part of history behind. Now, I understand the goal of promoting representation but by doing so, Disney is also taking away from other cultures. Why change existing stories when we can create new ones with diverse princesses? We’re altering stories that are deeply rooted to specific cultures, wouldn’t a better way to honor all cultures be to expand the fairytale universe, rather than dilute its origins?
