It’s an especially high-stakes project for Disney
In the pantheon of classic Disney princesses, Snow White holds a special place. Inspired by the Brothers Grimm story of the same name, Snow White and the Seven Dwarves famously became the first-ever animated film to hit theaters when it premiered in 1937, going on to influence directors ranging from Orson Welles to Federico Fellini. As New York Times critic Frank S. Nugent tellingly wrote in his ’30s review, “If you miss it, you’ll be missing the 10 best pictures of 1938.” Walt Disney’s take on the 19th-century German fairytale ultimately became the highest-grossing film ever at that point—cementing his status as a Hollywood power-player in the process.
Photo: Courtesy of Disney
Rachel Zegler is stepping into Snow White’s golden slippers
Disney has pledged to cast more diverse leads in its upcoming films, following Halle Bailey’s take on Ariel in the live-action remake of The Little Mermaid. In that vein, Snow White is being played by Rachel Zegler, who has dazzled audiences with her singing and dancing in recent years in the likes of West Side Story and The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes.
