The Snow White Showdown: Will Disney’s Princess or The Daily Wire’s Version Win Fans Over?
In a parallel universe, Disney’s latest Snow White might have already graced cinema screens. However, the reality is different. The Walt Disney Company has delayed its much-anticipated live-action remake of the 1937 animated classic.
The delay came after a tumultuous period for the entertainment industry, marked by the WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes, which rippled through Hollywood. Initially, Disney’s modernized version of Snow White was set to drop in 2024, but the calendar shift now positions both this version and a different take on the fairytale—a conservative adaptation from The Daily Wire—squarely in 2025’s release window.
These two adaptations couldn’t be more different. Disney’s version, starring Rachel Zegler, has faced ongoing scrutiny for its modern and culturally updated interpretation of the classic tale. On the other hand, The Daily Wire’s Snow White and the Evil Queen, led by Brett Cooper, aims to retain the original themes of beauty, vanity, love, and life. This version seems poised to cater to a more traditional audience, pushing back against what they perceive as Disney’s progressive “woke agenda.”
Disney’s Snow White vs. The Daily Wire’s Snow White and the Evil Queen
When Disney pushed back its release by an entire year, fans were given their first real glimpse at the film’s titular character, portrayed by Rachel Zegler, as well as the seven dwarfs, who had stirred up considerable controversy. Several years ago, there were reports that Disney planned to replace the dwarfs with “magical creatures,” a move that was seemingly in response to conversations started from the criticism shared by Game of Thrones actor Peter Dinklage.
Dinklage, an outspoken advocate for actors with dwarfism, had previously called out Disney for its portrayal of the seven dwarfs. Yet, Dinklage’s critique was not universally embraced within the dwarfism community. Many actors, some of whom depend on these types of roles, saw his comments as a hindrance, accusing Dinklage of inadvertently taking away job opportunities from little people.
But it wasn’t just the dwarfs that sparked controversy. Rachel Zegler’s casting as Snow White triggered intense debate, with detractors drawing parallels to the backlash Halle Bailey faced when she was cast as Ariel in Disney’s The Little Mermaid. While Bailey’s casting drew ire due to her being Black, Zegler’s critics honed in on her Latina heritage.
Despite the pushback, Disney forged ahead with Zegler in the leading role, though they made a significant change to the character’s backstory. In a revision to the original Disney plot, Snow White’s name will no longer reference her fair skin. Instead, Zegler’s Snow White will be named after surviving a snowstorm as a baby.
Reflecting on this decision, Zegler told Variety: “It fell back to another version of Snow White that was told in history, where she survived a snowstorm that occurred when she was a baby. So, the king and queen decided to name her Snow White to remind her of her resilience.
“One of the core points in our film for any young woman or young person is remembering how strong you actually are,” Zegler added. This theme of resilience has been echoed throughout the film’s promotional material, underscoring Disney’s commitment to making Snow White a symbol of empowerment.
Despite these adjustments, Zegler’s comments have often made her a lightning rod for controversy. During Disney’s D23 Expo in 2022, Zegler described the prince character from the original 1937 movie as a “stalker” and called his role in the film “weird.” She also distanced the new film from its predecessor by reminding audiences that “it’s not 1937 anymore,” highlighting the modern sensibilities that now shape the story.
“She’s not going to be saved by the prince, and she’s not going to be dreaming about true love,” Zegler said at the Expo, as reported by the New York Post.
“She’s dreaming about becoming the leader she knows she can be and the leader that her late father told her that she could be if she was fearless, fair, brave, and true.” Zegler’s remarks, while aiming to promote the empowering message of the film, ignited outrage from traditionalists, with some fans questioning whether the actress even appreciated the source material. Yet, Zegler has reiterated her affection for Snow White, even as the debate over her portrayal rages on.
Enter The Daily Wire’s Snow White and the Evil Queen
While Disney was contending with backlash over its progressive reimagining, The Daily Wire saw an opportunity. In October 2023, during Disney’s centennial year, The Daily Wire’s co-founder Jeremy Boreing announced that his company would be producing its own version of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, which would aim to stay truer to the original themes of love and beauty.
Boreing took a thinly veiled jab at Disney, saying: “It’s a story about a princess and a prince, about beauty and vanity, about love and its power to raise us from death to life.”
The Daily Wire co-founder didn’t shy away from criticizing what Disney has become, stating: “It’s taken 100 years to build Disney. We know we aren’t what Disney is today, but we hope in time we might become what they were, once upon a time: a little studio with big ideas and the courage to chase them.” He emphasized that while Disney may still use Walt Disney’s name, they have “all but abandoned his legacy.”
The company released the first teaser for their film, titled Snow White and the Evil Queen, on the same day Boreing made his announcement. The film, set to be released on the children’s streaming platform Bentkey, generated immediate buzz among conservative circles, and Brett Cooper’s casting as Snow White has only increased interest.
During an interview on The Jordan B. Peterson Podcast, Cooper explained the rationale behind The Daily Wire’s decision to create its own Snow White. “People were very disappointed, very upset about the way Disney was rolling out this project,” Cooper said. She also revealed that the film was in pre-production, with a release planned for 2025.
Cooper didn’t mince words when criticizing Disney’s approach: “As somebody who is more traditional … it’s sad to watch these stories be completely destructed for that [woke] agenda.” This sentiment echoed across The Daily Wire’s broader mission, as the company seeks to establish itself as a counterweight to what it views as Hollywood’s overly progressive stance on culture and storytelling.
A Tale of Two Snow Whites
While Disney and The Daily Wire march toward their 2025 releases, each company faces distinct challenges. For Disney, the backlash over Zegler’s casting and the narrative changes remain significant hurdles.
However, with a release date set for March 21, 2025, and a trailer that nods to some of the more traditional elements of the story, there’s still a chance that Disney’s Snow White could surprise critics and win over audiences. The presence of Gal Gadot as the Evil Queen and the inclusion of familiar characters could also work in its favor.
Meanwhile, The Daily Wire’s Snow White and the Evil Queen seems poised to capture the attention of those who feel alienated by Disney’s direction.
With a more traditional narrative and conservative values at its core, The Daily Wire hopes to create an alternative to Disney’s dominance in the world of family entertainment. However, as with any fledgling studio, matching Disney’s level of success will be a monumental challenge.
Regardless of which version audiences choose, 2025 is shaping up to be a battleground for Snow White, with both Disney and The Daily Wire eager to see whose vision will resonate more with modern viewers. Will audiences flock to Disney’s culturally updated Snow White, or will they embrace The Daily Wire’s traditional retelling? Only time will tell.
For now, one thing is clear: the discourse surrounding Snow White is far from over, and both versions will undoubtedly spark even more heated debates when they finally hit the screen.
Which version of Snow White will you be watching?
