These are the first exclusive images of Disney’s live action remake of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs which has been steeped in controversy over the use of dwarf actors.
Pictures obtained exclusively by MailOnline show the merry band of men and women walking across a field behind Rachel Zegler, the West Side Story star who has been cast as Snow White and is Disney’s first ever Latina princess.
Daubed in bright reds, blues and greens, the group of seven appeared to be in good spirits on set in Berkshire. At the front of the line is lead male actor Andrew Burnap, who plays a character known as ‘Jonathan’ on iMDB as the movie controversially ditches the role of the Prince in the classic fairytale.
Apart from one dwarf actor, the rest of the band are fully-sized adult actors. The Daily Mail’s Alison Boshoff previously revealed that Disney bosses had decided that Snow White’s seven ‘dwarfs’ will be fully computer generated – and will be magical, forest-dwelling creatures rather than dwarfs.
A source connected with the production explained that they will be rather like the trolls in Frozen, or JRR Tolkien’s hobbits. They will have two legs, two arms and a face with eyes, nose and a mouth – but not be actually human.
Game of Thrones actor Peter Dinklage slamming the studio for the decision, thundering in an interview last year: ‘I was a little taken aback when they [Disney] were very proud to cast a Latina actress as Snow White, but you’re still telling the story of Snow White And The Seven Dwarfs. Take a step back and look at what you’re doing there.
‘It makes no sense to me. You’re progressive in one way and you’re still making that f***ing backwards story about seven dwarfs living in a cave together, what the f*** are you doing, man? Have I done nothing to advance the cause from my soapbox? I guess I’m not loud enough.’
Disney bosses also came under fire for giving the titular role Zegler, despite the story being about a traditionally ‘fair’ German princess.
The film – which also stars Wonder Woman star Gal Gadot as the evil stepmother – is set to be released in March 2024.
In exclusive pictures Snow White’s Seven… Companions can be seen for the first time as bosses snub the original text amid criticism of the out-of-date portrayal
Rachel Zegler was controversially cast as Snow White – but the 22-year-old stuns in the iconic character’s vibrant dress
The merry band follow behind Snow White as they make their way across the idyllic Berkshire scene – and she serenely strides ahead
The Seven… Friends walk behind Andrew Burnap – who plays ‘Jonathan’ as the movie ditches the character of the Prince
The line follow through the flowered fields in a rag-tag assortment of wacky clothing – with no apparant theme of colours, style or period to tie the group together
New direction: Disney says it is taking a ‘different approach’ with the characters originally referred to as the ‘seven dwarfs’ in its remake of its classic film Snow White in an effort to ‘avoid reinforcing stereotypes’
At the front of the group appears to be the only actor with dwarfism, wearing a check consisting of a violent blue, red and yellow combination. The actor – who has long brown hair and a beard – is further dressed in scarlet trousers and a velvet green jacket, whose fabric is held together by red string.
Behind him is a man holding a large walking pole – and whose clothing seems less fitting for a strenuous country walk.
With a bright orange shirt featuring a swirling pattern, a wide collar spills over a striped green jacket and tall boots.
Following, a man with long blonde curls tucked into a smart blue beanie wears a more modern get up – including a brown and blue suit jacket and a loose blue top.
In sharp contrast, the man behind him – who has long brown curly hair and a beard – appears to be in a medieval get-up. With a leather hat and golden jacket, he also appears to be carrying a large coil of rope.
Two more follow beind – one in bright pattens of blues and clashing red, who also appears to be holding a club, while the other is equally eccentric in an array of blue and pink.
At the back is a man who towers above the rest, in a scarlet jacket and multi-coloured hoodie.
At one point the appear to stop and cheer, while in another moment they stand on the edge of the wood apparently in the midst of a heated discussion.
At one point the group appear to cheer Snow White as she stands with her back to us – while the Seven… Pals punch the air and cheer in response
The re-thinking of the Seven… People comes amid the corporation taking a new look at their old stories – with classics including Peter Pan and Aristocats getting content warnings for outdated content
Rachel Zegler looks serene and majestic in the classic red, blue and yellow of the Disney Princess – but her casting was blasted as the original German character was famously ‘fair’
Zegler as Snow White looks warily ahead, as her stern-faced Seven… Heads meander down the field
Behind them are a huge camera crew – tracking their movements across the idyllic English countryside. They follow behind lead male actor Andrew Burnap – who plays ‘Jonathan’ as the movie ditches the character of the Prince.
And in front of them all – wandering serenely on her own – is Zegler in the iconic blue, yellow and red dress of the Disney heroine.
Speaking about the role, the star said: ‘She’s not going to be saved by a kiss and she’s not dreaming of a Prince, because there isn’t one.
‘She is dreaming of becoming the leader her late father told her she could be, if she is fearless, honest and true.’
And in front of them all – wandering serenely on her own – is Zegler in the iconic blue, yellow and red dress of the Disney heroine.
After hearing of the adaptation, Game of Thrones star Dinklage, 52, blasted the studio for telling this ‘backwards’ story.
‘Literally no offence to anyone, but I was a little taken aback when they were very proud to cast a Latina actress as Snow White. You’re still telling the story of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs,’ Dinklage told the WTF podcast.
‘Take a step back and look at what you’re doing there. It makes no sense to me.
At one point the group appear to have a spirited discussion, as the wackily-clad Seven… Associates contend at the edge of a wood
Andrew Burnap, 32, who plays a character known as ‘Jonathan’ on iMDB, stands majestically at the top of the field
Of the band only one appears to have dwarfism – while the other six seem to all be of average height
One man is wackily dressed and holding a large walking pole – while another, in a blue and brown jacket and holding a walking stick, appears to be in more modern attire
In sharp contrast, the man behind him – who has long brown curly hair and a beard – appears to be in a medieval get-up. Another wears bright patterns of blues and clashing red, and appears to be holding a club
One actor is on an eccentric in an array of blue and pink, while another is in a scarlet jacket and multi-coloured hoodie
‘You’re progressive in one way and you’re still making that f***ing backwards story about seven dwarfs living in a cave together, what the f*** are you doing man?’
Backlash: The movie faced backlash from Peter Dinklage
His concerns were shared by some charities, including the Restricted Growth Association in the UK.
‘I very much stand with Peter Dinklage on the disappointment and irritation towards Disney for the remake of Snow White,’ Rhonda Cutmore, a member of the association, told The Telegraph. ‘
As a 46-year-old woman with restricted growth, this story has always had a negative impact on me. Not just the physical characteristics, but the labelling of ‘Dopey’ and ‘Bashful’, were not helpful in the playground.
She added: ‘People with restricted growth are in majority born to average height parents – they never live in gingerbread houses, have little bear beds nor live in homogeneous groups together.’
Dwarfism writer Steph Robson said she hoped film producers make an effort to avoid stereotypes in its retelling of the classic movie.
‘It is my hope that the latest live action remake, and Disney, will, at the very least go some way to redress the decades of the one-dimensional stereotypes that our disability continues to experience, especially within arts and cultural settings,’ she told the outlet.
The story has also been criticized as being ableist for portraying the dwarfs with lesser intelligence and Snow White seeing them as children.
Daubed in bright reds, blues and greens, the group of seven appeared to be in good spirits on set in Berkshire
Behind them are a huge camera crew – tracking their movements across the idyllic English countryside
The team of techies are pushing ahead as they get ready to show the film in March next year – and they have even enlisted the help of a drone
The team look relaxed as they take a break and are given some direction as they enjoy some coffee in the shade
The original animated film was based on an 1812 fairy tale from The Brothers Grimm, though the dwarfs in that story lived in a cottage, not a cave.
The story has also been criticized as being ableist for portraying the dwarfs with lesser intelligence and Snow White seeing them as children.
Disney has said it’s ‘taking a different approach’ with Snow White’s seven companions, after Game Of Thrones actor Peter slammed the studio for remaking the ‘backward’ film that reinforces stereotypes.
In a statement last year, the company said it had been consulting with members of the dwarfism community throughout the early stages of production.
‘To avoid reinforcing stereotypes from the original animated film, we are taking a different approach with these seven characters and have been consulting with members of the dwarfism community,’ a spokesperson said.
‘We look forward to sharing more as the film heads into production after a lengthy development period.’
In December last year, sources close to the production said Snow White’s seven ‘dwarfs’ were not going to be fully computer generated, and wouldn’t be dwarfs at all.
Instead, she would be befriended by magical, forest-dwelling creatures.
At one point the appear to stop and cheer, while in another moment they stand on the edge of the wood apparently in the midst of a heated discussion
A source connected with the production explained that they will be rather like the trolls in Frozen, or JRR Tolkein’s hobbits. They will have two legs, two arms and a face with eyes, nose and a mouth . . . but not be actually human.
They said: ‘We finished filming in the summer but it takes months to sort out the CG for the dwarfs, who aren’t dwarfs. Also, it always takes ages for all the merchandise to be made, so the film’s not out for a long time still.’
Zegler also brushed off scandals after her casting recieved backlash because of her Columbian-American heritage.
In the classic fairytale, Snow White is described as the ‘fairest one of all’ with ‘skin as white as snow.’
Zegler took to social media in June to celebrate the news and fire back at a handful of haters who questioned her casting as the historically white character.
‘yes i am snow white no i am not bleaching my skin for the role,’ she wrote in a since-deleted tweet.
She later said: ‘Never in a million years did I imagine that this would be a possibility for me. You don’t normally see Snow Whites of Latin descent, even though Snow White is a big deal in Spanish-speaking countries.
‘People are making these jokes about ours being the PC Snow White . . . yeah, it is — because it needed that.
‘It’s an 85-year-old cartoon and our version is a refreshing story about a young woman who has a function beyond ‘Someday My Prince Will Come’.’
Marc Webb, director of the Snow White adaptation, said Rachel’s ‘strength, intelligence and optimism’ made her the right choice for the iconic role.
The reboot comes as – since 2020 – Disney have slapped racism warnings on some of its most iconic movies, including Peter Pan and The Jungle Book, to alert viewers to sensitive scenes.
The media conglomerate believes some of its older cartoons contain outdated racial or ethnic stereotypes, and now opens some films with a disclaimer.
It reads: ‘This program includes negative depictions and/or mistreatment of people or cultures.’
Movies with warning include the 1970 musical comedy The Aristocats, 1955 canine love story Lady and the Tramp and 1960 adventure Swiss Family Robinson.
In relation to The Aristocats, Disney warns viewers about a scene where one cat, voiced by a white actor, yells out stereotypical Chinese ‘words’ while playing the piano with chopsticks.
Peter Pan viewers are warned that Native Americans Indians are referred to as ‘redskins’. Disney says scenes in which Peter and The Lost Boys dance in native American headdresses are a ‘form of mockery and appropriation of Native peoples’ culture and imagery.’
The Jungle Book has also been highlighted, namely for its depiction of the ape King Louie, which was accused of perpetuating a stereotype of African Americans.
Elsewhere 1941 release Dumbo comes under fire for its references to racist segregationist laws in the deep south, as well as its use of affected African-American voices.
The lead crow in the film is also called Jim Crow – a reference to the segregation laws in late 19th and early 20th Century America.
Lady And The Tramp has been placed on the list due to its perceived stereotyping of Asians courtesy of Siamese cats Si and Am, while a dog pound features canines with largely ethnic names and accents
