For years, Disney has been breathing new life into its own catalog of classic animated movies – such as CINDERELLA, ALADDIN and PINOCCHIO – by remaking them into live-action features. And coming up, the studio is giving the same treatment to its first feature-length animated film, SNOW WHITE AND THE SEVEN DWARFS.
Attendants of the Disney’s D23 expo were treated with a glimpse of what to expect from the film’s stars, Rachel Zegler and Gal Gadot. Here are some things we know so far about this new, live-action take on SNOW WHITE.
Reimagining A Classic Tale
Out of all Disney’s recent remakes of their animated classics, the most acclaimed of the bunch have offered something new to behold beyond a live-action setting. For instance, Lily James’ Cinderella and Richard Madden’s Prince met each other prior to the royal ball, making their romance feel more natural by that point in the story.
SNOW WHITE star Rachel Zegler says that the new film is also changing things up a bit by reimagining the title role. She admitted to People that most of her character “does not work for today's audience” before adding that the filmmakers set out to “make a new version” who is more emotionally complex, more independent and 18 years old instead of 13.
Snow White Comes Out In 2024
While there are a couple of other live-action Disney remakes to look forward to before it comes out – namely THE LITTLE MERMAID and PETER PAN & WENDY in 2023 – the release of SNOW WHITE is not so far away. The film is currently expected to hit AMC Theatres on March 22, 2024.
Disney’s original, animated adaptation of the Grimm Brothers’ seminal tale was first released in 1937 and earned Walt Disney an honorary Academy Award® with seven miniature statuettes attached to represent the Seven Dwarfs. How fun would it be to see that moment recreated at the 2025 Oscars®?
Rachel Zegler And Gal Gadot Star
Bringing this new portrayal of the iconic title role of SNOW WHITE – also the first Disney princess – is Rachel Zegler, and what a great fit for the role she is. Zegler first gained fame on YouTube singing rousing covers of hit songs like A STAR IS BORN’s “Shallow” before making her acting debut as Maria in Steven Spielberg’s 2021 remake of WEST SIDE STORY. Next, she will join the DC Extended Universe with a role on the SHAZAM! FURY OF THE GODS cast in 2023.
Speaking of DC movies, Wonder Woman herself, Gal Gadot, is temporarily abandoning her heroic reputation to play the chilling villain of the story – Snow White’s wicked stepmother, The Queen. This will not, however, be the Israeli actor’s first antagonistic role – having faced-off against Dwayne Johnson and Ryan Reynolds in Netflix’s RED NOTICE – nor is it her first collaboration with Disney, as she voiced the role of Shank in RALPH BREAKS THE INTERNET.
Marc Webb Directs
SNOW WHITE will also not be the first collaboration between Disney and the movie’s director, Marc Webb, who previously executive produced and directed a couple episodes of Disney+’s R.L. Stine-inspired anthology series, “Just Beyond.” However, the filmmaker is even better known for deconstructing the rom-com genre with his 2009 feature-length debut, (500) DAYS OF SUMMER, and directing Andrew Garfiled as Peter Parker in both of Sony’s THE AMAZING SPIDER-MAN movies in 2012 and 2014.
Producing SNOW WHITE is Academy Award nominee Marc Platt, who has worked on all kinds of different movies ranging from action – such as WANTED or DRIVE – to comedies – like LEGALLY BLONDE – and musicals like 2016’s LA LA LAND, as well. However, most importantly, he is also no stranger to resurrecting classic Disney stories for modern audiences, having also produced MARY POPPINS RETURNS, 2019’s ALADDIN, CRUELLA and the upcoming THE LITTLE MERMAID remake.
Music From Pasek And Paul
Disney is also doing more than reimagining the titular princess character to make SNOW WHITE a refreshing, live-action experience. While they are likely to bring back classic tunes like “Whistle While You Work” or “Heigh-Ho,” the film will also feature all new songs by Benj Pasek and Justin Paul, who have previously worked with producer Marc Platt on a number of projects, including the aforementioned LA LA LAND.
In fact, in 2017, the acclaimed duo won the Best Original Song Oscar for “City of Stars” from Damien Chazelle’s hit film, and earned a Tony Award for composing the hit stage musical “Dear Evan Hansen” before earning another nod from the Academy the following year for the song “This Is Me” in THE GREATEST SHOWMAN. SNOW WHITE will actually mark the second time that Pasek and Paul have worked in the music department for a live-action Disney remake – the first time being on ALADDIN, for which they wrote the lyrics to the new track “Speechless” with Alan Menken.
A talented director at the helm, new music from one of the industry’s most exciting songwriting duos and two of Hollywood’s most beloved stars in the lead roles. What more could you ask for from a live-action remake of an animated classic? See for yourself once SNOW WHITE hits AMC Theatres in 2024.
SNOW WHITE