The live-action version of the Walt Disney classic arrives in theaters on March 19. With Rachel Zegler in the title role and Gal Gadot as the Evil Queen.
Embarked for a decade on a live-action adaptation of these animated classics, Disney took its time before tackling the masterpiece that started it all: Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. Put into development in 2016, this new version had a winding genesis. Filming took place in England in 2022 but the actors’ and writers’ strike stopped everything before a brief return to the sets in June 2024 to shoot additional scenes. The release date was therefore pushed back to spring 2025. Posted online on Tuesday, a second trailer lifts the veil a little more on the atmosphere of this remake in musical comedy mode.
Revealed by the West Side Story by Steven Spielberg, Rachel Zegler dons the yellow skirt and blue and red corset emblematic of the young princess, mistreated by her stepmother, who, jealous of her beauty, orders her put to death. Into the skin of the iconic evil Queen slips the ex-Wonder WomanIsraeli actress Gal Gadot.
This trailer does not focus on the romance of Snow White and her future Prince Charming but places more emphasis on the fight of the young woman – not at all a heroine in distress – to save her kingdom. “The Evil Queen has taken everything from us, it’s time to restore our country,” explains Snow White, who asks her stepmother to show kindness and justice towards the people.
Controversial Dwarves and Prince Charming Deconstructed
The montage also gives a glimpse of the seven dwarves. Following controversies over the way dwarfism is represented on screen, fueled among others by the star of Game Of Thrones Peter Dinklage, Disney has completely changed its approach. Snow White’s allies have been recreated in 3D and animated. This choice was not unanimous either: some arguing that it deprived small actors of valuable roles to break through. Moreover, the title of the film shortened to Snow White don’t mention them either.
The figure of the suitor, aka Prince Charming, also seems to have been profoundly reworked. In the distribution, there is no mention of a “prince” but of a certain Jonathan, who seems, according to the trailer, to be of more modest origin. Played by American actor Andrew Burnap, he even receives assistance from Snow White. A more modern vision.
Directed by Marc Webb (The Amazing Spider-man, (500) days together), ce Snow White explores lesser-known variations of the Brothers Grimm tale. The heroine owes her name not to her alabaster complexion but to the fact of having survived a snowstorm as a child. At the helm are producers Marc Platt and Jared LeBoff, who are currently captivating the US box office with their adaptation of the musical Wicked. Enough to hope to woo the public again in the spring.
