Disney is keeping its Hollywood premiere for Snow White on March 15 relatively low-key, opting for a scaled-down event rather than its usual grand red-carpet spectacle. While the afternoon celebration at the El Capitan Theatre will still feature a pre-party and screening, the studio has limited media coverage, inviting only photographers and a house crew instead of the typical lineup of press outlets.
The move comes as the film, directed by Marc Webb and set to hit theaters on March 21, has faced ongoing controversies involving its stars, Rachel Zegler and Gal Gadot.
Snow White’s Backlash and Industry Criticism
Zegler’s casting as Snow White sparked heated debate, with some questioning a Latina actress portraying the iconic character. The West Side Story star also faced criticism for calling the 1937 Disney classic “dated” and expressing disapproval of its romantic storyline.
Advertisement She’s not going to be saved by the prince. She’s dreaming about becoming the leader she knows she can be.
Zegler told Variety at D23
Further controversy arose when actor Peter Dinklage criticized the film’s approach to little people, calling it contradictory.
They were very proud to cast a Latino actress as Snow White, but you’re still telling the story of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs.
Dinklage said on the WTF With Marc Maron podcast.
Following his remarks, Disney announced that it had consulted members of the dwarfism community and was “taking a different approach” with the seven characters.
Political Controversy and Public Reaction
Beyond industry criticism, the film has also become entangled in political discourse. Zegler has been vocal about her support for “free Palestine” on social media, while Gadot, who is Israeli, has spoken out in defense of Israel, particularly after the Oct. 7 Hamas attack.
Never did I imagine that on the streets of the United States, and different cities around the world, we would see people not condemning Hamas, but celebrating, justifying and cheering on a massacre of Jews.
At the Anti-Defamation League’s annual summit, Gadot stated
Meanwhile, Zegler has also come under fire from MAGA supporters for her past criticism of Donald Trump, after she once posted on Instagram,
May Trump supporters and Trump voters and Trump himself never know peace.
She later apologized for the remark.
Disney’s Strategy for Snow White’s Release
Despite the toned-down premiere, Disney has remained committed to the film’s promotional rollout. Zegler and Gadot presented together at the Oscars, and Zegler has been making appearances worldwide, including a press event in Tokyo and a Broadway community screening in New York City. Gadot recently appeared on Good Morning America to discuss the film.
Meanwhile, Snow White’s official trailer has generated significant interest, amassing 11.8 million views on YouTube in just three months.
With its March 21 release approaching, Disney appears to be carefully managing the film’s publicity, balancing excitement for its modernized take on the classic tale with the controversies that continue to swirl around it.