Rachel Zegler, set to star as Snow White in Disney's upcoming live-action film, has finally addressed a long-standing controversy: how the studio will explain the character's name, "Snow White," given Zegler's Colombian heritage.
The original 1937 animated classic, "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs," established the princess's name based on her "skin as white as snow, lips as red as blood, and hair as black as ebony." However, Zegler revealed that the new film will draw from an alternative historical origin for the name.
"This goes back to another version of the 'Snow White' story in history," Zegler explained in an interview with Variety. "She endured a blizzard as a baby and survived. So, the King and Queen decided to name her Snow White to commemorate her resilience."
She emphasized, "One of the core messages of our film is to remind every woman or young person how powerful they are."
The film has been consistently embroiled in casting controversies and misconstrued statements. In a 2022 red carpet interview, Zegler stated that the new "Snow White" wouldn't have the princess "pining over a man all day," and she found some elements of the original film "outdated" and "creepy," particularly the prince "stalking" Snow White. These remarks led some loyal fans to believe Zegler was dismissive of the classic animated feature, further intensifying public disapproval.
Zegler expressed regret over the backlash, clarifying, "Honestly, I was saddened that my words were interpreted that way. I believe women can take on any challenge and overcome it. The love story has always been a very important part, and we haven't abandoned that storyline; we just didn't discuss it that day."
Zegler cited American R&B singer Brandy Norwood, who starred in the 1997 "Rodgers & Hammerstein's Cinderella," as an example, arguing that all versions of a character should be recognized. "I watched that movie at home, and to me, that was Cinderella."
She further elaborated, "Children's minds are truly wonderful and capable of embracing diverse representations. To me, she was Cinderella. But similarly, the blonde, blue-eyed Cinderella in the blue dress from the 1950s cartoon is also Cinderella. Hilary Duff's character in 'A Cinderella Story' is also Cinderella." Zegler stated that she understood the diversity of these characters from a young age and is confident her audience will possess the same understanding.
Brandy previously offered Zegler encouragement, stating, "The purpose of you taking on this role isn't to appease the haters. Your purpose is for every little Colombian girl to see herself in a Disney princess. You are doing this for yourself and for those little girls who lack cultural representation; it's the most important job in the world."
via： Variety