The Controversial Tale Of Snow White: Two Films, One Iconic Story

Snow White has found herself in the center of a political controversy now that two contrasting movies about her are set to be released. In October, the conservative media outlet The Daily Wire announced its plan to challenge The Walt Disney Company with a live-action version of Snow White titled Snow White and the Evil Queen. This new film is slated to be released on Bentkey, a platform dedicated to family-friendly movies and shows, before the year concludes.

Not much is known about the non-Disney adaptation; however, its star, Brett Cooper, shared some insights during a recent interview. Cooper is recognized for her conservative podcast The Comments Section and her role in the TV show Heathers. She revealed that her portrayal of Snow White will closely mirror the original Brothers Grimm tale published in 1812, emphasizing themes of community, perseverance, good versus evil, and beauty versus vanity.

In a discussion with Dr. Jordan Peterson, a Canadian psychologist known for his critiques of political correctness, Cooper expressed her disappointment with Disney's approach to their Snow White project. She mentioned that the public has been quite upset over the way Disney has handled casting controversies, which has resulted in the Daily Wire’s version being released a few months ahead of Disney's.

Disney's version, simply titled Snow White, was originally scheduled for a theatrical release two months ago. However, the company cited a now-resolved SAG-AFTRA strike as the reason for its year-long delay. Critics argue that the postponement was also a tactic to distance the film from ongoing controversies regarding its "woke" themes.

Disney did not respond to requests for comment from Newsweek. The film features Israeli actress Gal Gadot as the queen, while Snow White is portrayed by Rachel Zegler, who gained fame for her role as Maria in Steven Spielberg’s 2021 remake of West Side Story.

In her public statements over the past few years, Zegler has indicated that her version of Snow White will be framed through a feminist lens, which has stirred discontent among both political conservatives and Disney loyalists. Zegler has declared, "It’s no longer 1937," asserting that Snow White will not be saved by a prince or dream of true love, reflecting a significant shift from the traditional narrative.

In interviews, Zegler has been critical of the prince character in the original tales, describing the narrative focus on a love story with a man who "literally stalks her" as outdated and "weird." Although her comments initially drew little attention, they resurfaced as speculation grew regarding the film's production challenges, including reported reshoots after principal photography had concluded.

Cooper, during her podcast discussion, expressed concern over the direction of these classic stories, lamenting that they are being altered to fit modern agendas. She promised that her version of Snow White would align with the original values of the fairy tale.

Disney faced backlash over its decision to alter the portrayal of the seven dwarfs in its film, stating that they would replace the characters with non-humans, utilizing CGI to create additional characters, including a female. This decision was framed as an effort to avoid reinforcing stereotypes from the original animated film, but critics have accused Disney of capitulating to political correctness while potentially denying actors with dwarfism significant opportunities.

During the podcast, Cooper revealed that she is preparing for her role by taking dance and singing lessons, as her Snow White will also be a musical, similar to Disney's version. When Jeremy Boreing, co-founder of The Daily Wire, first announced Snow White and the Evil Queen, he criticized Disney's approach, claiming that their new adaptation serves as an apology for past missteps rather than a faithful retelling of timeless truths.

Cooper also shared her experience filming a teaser trailer in Europe, dressed as Snow White, while her fellow castmates from The Pendragon Cycle were oblivious to the secretive project at the time. The Pendragon Cycle is a seven-episode series inspired by the books of Stephen R. Lawhead, in which Cooper plays the wife of Merlin, the magician.