Live-Action ‘Snow White’ Will Rewrite Walt Disney’s Own Unfinished Plot
Disney’s long-awaited live-action remake of Snow White is finally on the verge of release, with just over two weeks until it premieres in theaters. Directed by Marc Webb (The Amazing Spider-Man), this new take on the 1937 animated classic has seen its fair share of challenges, and now, Disney has officially confirmed a significant change to one of its key characters.
From the start, Snow White’s journey to release has been anything but smooth. The project has faced intense scrutiny, from backlash surrounding Zegler’s past remarks about the original film to discussions about the depiction of the dwarfs and criticism of Gadot’s casting due to her background as a former IDF soldier. Add to that the film’s reported $300 million budget (via Forbes), and its projected $53 million domestic opening weekend could spell trouble for Disney’s latest live-action venture.
Rachel Zegler and Gal Gadot, taking on the roles of Snow White and the Evil Queen, respectively, will soon be seen sharing the screen when the film debuts exclusively in theaters on March 21, 2025. Their on-stage chemistry at the 97th Academy Awards, however, left some fans skeptical about the dynamic they will bring to the big screen.
Zegler’s 2022 comments dismissing the original film’s love story, including her description of the prince as a stalker, drew strong reactions from longtime Disney fans. Though she later acknowledged that the backlash stemmed from audiences’ love for the classic film, the controversy still looms large as the movie prepares for its delayed debut.
Among the film’s most talked-about changes is the removal of the traditional prince character, replaced instead by a new figure named Jonathan, played by Andrew Burnap. While speculation about this change had been circulating for some time, Disney has now provided official confirmation of Jonathan’s role in the story.
The Spring 2025 edition of D23 magazine (via The Direct) finally revealed Jonathan’s origins, with Webb explaining that his character draws inspiration from an abandoned storyline in Walt Disney’s early concepts for the animated film.
“When writing the script, we went back to the (Walt Disney) Archives to understand how Walt brought Snow White to life. It was humbling to see the amount of work and care that went into the making of that magnificent piece of art. One sketch that didn’t make it into the original film—about the Prince being held in the dungeon—really stuck with me. It was a storyline that Walt never got to complete to his satisfaction. So, in a sense, Jonathan was our effort to pick up where he left off.”
Despite Zegler’s previous assertions that this adaptation would not center on romance, Webb hinted at a different approach. “We’ve been careful to preserve the iconography of Snow White that we love while also exploring Snow White’s romance and romantic relationship a bit more deeply,” he said.
Burnap, known for his performances in WeCrashed and Under the Banner of Heaven, shed light on his character’s role in the story. “Jonathan finds himself quite disillusioned with the power structures of the world he lives in and is part of a certain resistance to those power structures. When we meet him, he is just looking for a reason to find a sense of fight in himself again, that sense of hope that seems to be missing from the world,” Burnap explained.
“There are certain times in life where your sense of hope and resistance is knocked down a few pegs and you’re just looking for something that will reignite the fire within you. And that’s certainly the place where Jonathan finds himself.”
Adding to Jonathan’s personality, Burnap described him as someone who can find humor in serious situations. Zegler even likened him to Flynn Rider from Disney’s 2010 animated hit Tangled, suggesting a more roguish and charismatic energy for the character.
Disney’s Snow White will finally hit theaters on March 21, 2025. Written by Greta Gerwig (Barbie) and Erin Cressida Wilson (The Girl on the Train), the cast includes Rachel Zegler as Snow White, Gal Gadot as the Evil Queen, Andrew Burnap as Jonathan, Ansu Kabia as the Huntsman, Jeremy Swift as Doc, Andrew Barth Feldman as Dopey, Tituss Burgess as Bashful, George Salazar as Happy, Martin Klebba as Grumpy, Andy Grotelueschen as Sleepy, and Jason Kravits as Sneezy.
What’s your take on Disney’s decision to replace the prince in this adaptation? Share your thoughts in the comments!
