Disney Gives Some Asian Countries Their Own Snow White | popgeeks.com
Disney’s live-action Snow White movie has been facing a storm of controversy and criticism even before its official release. The film has sparked heated debates, alienating audiences from both ends of the political spectrum, leading Disney to take an unusual step—releasing a different version of the movie in some Asian countries. One of the earliest and most talked-about controversies was the casting of Rachel Zegler, a dusky-skinned Latina actress, as Snow White. Many fans were quick to point out that the defining characteristic of the fairytale princess is her “skin as white as snow.” This choice led to backlash from those who felt that Disney was disregarding the original story’s core descriptions. The controversy was further exacerbated by Zegler herself, who, in interviews, dismissed the original Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937) as outdated and “weird, weird, weird.” These comments alienated fans of the beloved animated classic, turning what could have been a triumphant casting into a public relations disaster.
Snow White is currently a PR Nightmare
Adding to the controversy, Disney opted to replace the traditional seven dwarves with CGI characters following actor Peter Dinklage’s public criticism of the depiction of dwarves in the original story. Dinklage, a vocal advocate for representation in Hollywood, called the dwarves a negative stereotype. However, his remarks ended up costing six out of seven little people the opportunity to be part of a major film, sparking backlash from those within the community who felt robbed of a rare Hollywood role.
Further fueling the controversy, the film’s two leading stars—Rachel Zegler and Gal Gadot—became figures of political division. Zegler has been an outspoken supporter of Free Palestine, while Gadot, a former Israeli soldier, has openly supported Israel. Their conflicting views have led to backlash from both sides, with neither pro-Palestinian nor pro-Israeli audiences feeling represented or comfortable supporting the film.
Amidst the overwhelming criticism, Disney has reportedly taken an unprecedented step by modifying the film for some Asian countries, possibly adjusting elements to make it more culturally palatable. Whether this means altering the casting, changing the marketing approach, or even modifying the character designs remains to be seen. This decision suggests that Disney is attempting to salvage the film’s potential success in international markets where audiences might be more sensitive to some of these controversies.
Additionally, to boost the film’s appeal in these regions, Disney has enlisted popular singers from various Asian countries to cover the movie’s signature song, Waiting for a Wish, in their native languages while dressing as Snow White. The Philippines has Maymay Entrata, China has Curley Gao, Japan features a duet between Sakura Kiryu and Rachel Zegler, and South Korea has Suzy performing the song. This move appears to be an effort to generate positive buzz and localize the film’s promotional campaign to better connect with audiences in these markets.
