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Original Snow White director’s son slams ‘disrespectful’ live-action remake

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Rachel Zegler and Gal Gadot are set to star in the live-action remake (Image: Getty Images for IMDb)
Rachel Zegler and Gal Gadot are set to star in the live-action remake (Image: Getty Images for IMDb)

Disney’s live-action remake of Snow White has been slammed as “disrespectful” by the son of the director who helmed the original animated classic.

David Hand directed the 1937 movie Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, which was the first-ever Disney animated feature film, but his son, also called David, has criticised the upcoming live-action remake of the movie, set to star Rachel Zegler as the eponymous Disney princess, and Gal Gadot as the villainous Evil Queen.

The original has been updated and won’t feature some of the elements of the original, and Rachel herself has said Snow White will be “more independent” than the 1937 character, but David slammed the “insulting” project, and claimed filmmakers were making Snow White “woke”. In an interview with The Telegraph, he fumed: “It's a whole different concept, and I just totally disagree with it. Their thoughts are just so radical now.”

Original Snow White director’s son slams ‘disrespectful’ live-action remake qhiqqxixdiqkkprw (Getty Images)
Original Snow White director’s son slams ‘disrespectful’ live-action remakeGal Gadot will play the Evil Queen (Getty Images)

David said it was a “disgrace” that the live-action version will be more of a modern-day portrayal of Snow White, and said Disney were “trying to do something new with something that was such a great success earlier.” He added: “They’re making up new woke things, and I’m just not into any of that. I find it quite frankly a bit insulting (what) they may have done with some of these classic films.”

He said there was “no respect” for his filmmaker father or Walt Disney, and said they would be “turning in their graves”. The movie is set to be released in 2024, but no trailer or images from the project have been released. Marc Webb, who helmed The Amazing Spider-Man, is serving as director, while Barbie writer and director Greta Gerwig will be co-writing the script.

'I moved house next to Disneyland - we visit 4 times a week and never get bored''I moved house next to Disneyland - we visit 4 times a week and never get bored'
Original Snow White director’s son slams ‘disrespectful’ live-action remakeSnow White was released in 1937, and was Disney's first-ever animated feature film (Fotos International/REX/Shutterstock)

When news of the live-action remake was announced last year, Rachel revealed it would differ from the original because “most of my character does not work for today's audience”. The 22-year-old, who previously starred in the hugely successful West Side Story remake, said they did a “deep dive” into “making a modern woman out of Snow White” while at the D23 Expo in September last year.

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The first element that has been changed is the character’s age, as in the original 1937 movie she is 13, but in the remake she will be 18. “She's a bit more independent… It was really incredible to watch the cartoon and see, there's no more waiting for a man, which is really nice,” Rachel explained, adding that Snow White will be going on a “journey” in the updated remake.

Emma Wilson

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