A Fresh Take: Snow White Trailer Reimagines Classic Story with Empowering Themes
The highly anticipated live-action Snow White trailer has finally been released, offering a glimpse into the modern reimagining of the iconic Disney story. Starring Rachel Zegler as Snow White and Gal Gadot as the Evil Queen, the trailer showcases the beloved classic with a more contemporary, feminist twist.
Disney’s latest adaptation, which follows the success of The Little Mermaid and The Lion King, was first announced in 2022 and has been making waves with its updated narrative and diverse cast. While the core storyline remains familiar, the film introduces Snow White as a more independent and complex character, who is portrayed as 18 years old, rather than the 13-year-old in the original animated film.
In the trailer, Snow White challenges the Evil Queen to show kindness to her subjects, but the Queen insists on being “the fairest of them all,” a term that is now redefined to represent fairness and equality rather than simply physical beauty. The movie’s shift from beauty to equity offers a refreshing take on the classic theme.
A More Complex Snow White
Zegler has emphasized the importance of giving Snow White a deeper, more relatable character arc. “We did a really deep dive into fixing and making a modern woman out of Snow White,” Zegler shared in a 2022 interview. “She’s 18 now, she’s independent, and she’s also living in grief. We explore what it’s like to be a teenager while dealing with complex emotions.”
The film also reimagines the origin of Snow White’s name. In this version, her name comes from her survival of a snowstorm in her infancy, symbolizing her resilience rather than referencing her fair skin. This shift highlights the theme of strength, which Zegler believes is a core message for young audiences: “One of the core points in our film is remembering how strong you actually are.”
Excitement for the New Snow White
Directed by Marc Webb and written by Greta Gerwig and Erin Cressida Wilson, the film has been eagerly awaited since its 2016 inception. While the original release date was set for March 2024, it has been pushed to March 21, 2025, due to delays from the SAG-AFTRA strike. Despite the setback, fans are excited to see how this fresh interpretation of Snow White will bring new life to the classic fairy tale.
With its empowering themes, diverse cast, and a modern Snow White, the live-action adaptation promises to be a must-watch for both old and new fans of the beloved story.