The Seven Biggest Changes And Full Cast Of Disney's Controversial Snow White Live-Action (2025)

The highly anticipated, and equally controversial, live-action remake of Disney’s *Snow White* is set to finally hit theaters on March 21, 2025. This new iteration, directed by Marc Webb, is not a shot-for-shot remake of the 1937 animated classic *Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs* but rather a "reimagining" that has sparked intense global debate over its casting, story changes, and overall approach. The film promises a fresh, modern perspective on the timeless tale, led by a cast of major Hollywood stars and rising talents.

As of this current date, the film's production has been marked by significant updates, including a major shift in the depiction of the Seven Dwarfs and the introduction of a completely new main character. Understanding the full list of actors and the roles they play is essential to grasping the scope of this ambitious, and often criticized, multi-million dollar project.

The Main Cast: Full Biography and Character Profiles

The core of Disney's live-action *Snow White* is anchored by two powerhouse performers: a Golden Globe-winning newcomer and an established global superstar. This section provides a detailed look at the actors bringing the central characters to life.

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• Rachel Zegler as Snow White
  • Full Name: Rachel Anne Zegler
  • Born: May 3, 2001, Hackensack, New Jersey, USA
  • Heritage: Colombian (mother's side) and Polish (father's side) descent.
  • Breakthrough: She was chosen from over 30,000 applicants to play María in Steven Spielberg's 2021 adaptation of *West Side Story*, a role for which she won a Golden Globe Award for Best Actress.
  • Notable Filmography: *West Side Story* (2021), *Shazam! Fury of the Gods* (2023), *The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes* (2023).
  • Snow White Role: Portrays a "fearless and pure-hearted princess" determined to free her kingdom from her stepmother’s tyranny.
• Gal Gadot as The Evil Queen
  • Born: April 30, 1985, Petaḥ Tiqwa, Israel
  • Career Start: Crowned Miss Israel in 2004. Served two years in the Israel Defense Forces.
  • Breakthrough: Gisele Yashar in the *Fast & Furious* film series (starting in 2009).
  • Global Stardom: Achieved worldwide fame playing Diana Prince / Wonder Woman in the DC Extended Universe films, including *Wonder Woman* (2017) and *Wonder Woman 1984* (2020).
  • Snow White Role: The vain and sinister stepmother, the Evil Queen. Gadot has stated she found the role a fun departure from her heroic roles, embracing the villainy.
• Andrew Burnap as Jonathan
  • Born: March 5, 1991, Rhode Island, USA
  • Career Highlight: Tony Award winner for Best Actor in a Play for his role in *The Inheritance* (2020).
  • Snow White Role: Jonathan is a completely new character created for the live-action film. He is a commoner and Snow White's love interest, replacing the original Prince Charming. This change is a significant narrative shift aimed at modernizing the princess's story.
• Patrick Page as The Magic Mirror (Voice)
  • Born: February 25, 1962, Oregon, USA
  • Career Highlight: A celebrated Broadway veteran, known for originating the role of Hades in the Tony-winning musical *Hadestown*.
  • Snow White Role: Lends his powerful voice and likeness to the iconic Magic Mirror, the Queen's source of information and vanity.

The Seven Companions: A Casting Revolution

One of the most significant and widely discussed changes in the 2025 live-action *Snow White* is the reimagining of the Seven Dwarfs. Following criticism from prominent actors with dwarfism, such as Peter Dinklage, Disney announced they would replace the traditional characters with a group of "seven magical companions" to avoid perpetuating stereotypes.

This decision resulted in a diverse group of actors, some of whom are little people, and others who are not, playing the companions. While the specific names of all seven companions have not been officially detailed by Disney, the cast list includes a mix of talents, suggesting a new, non-traditional dynamic for the group.

Key Actors and Their Companion Roles:

• Martin Klebba as Grumpy: The *Pirates of the Caribbean* actor, who is a little person, confirmed he plays the role of Grumpy. His casting is notable as it suggests a blend of the old and new approach, with at least one character retaining a traditional dwarf name and being played by a little person. Klebba has also publicly commented on the controversy, defending the film's production.
• Tituss Burgess as Bashful: The Emmy-nominated star of *Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt* is rumored or reported to be voicing the character Bashful, indicating some companions may be CGI or animated creations, further complicating the nature of the "seven companions".
• Ansu Kabia as The Huntsman: While not one of the seven companions, Kabia takes on the role of the Huntsman, the character originally tasked by the Evil Queen to kill Snow White.

Other talented actors listed in the cast, whose specific companion roles are still a subject of speculation and production rumor, include George Salazar, Jason Kravits, Andy Grotelueschen, Emilia Faucher (as Young Snow White), Lorena Andrea, and Dujonna Gift.

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The Seven Major Controversies That Defined the Production

The road to the March 2025 premiere has been anything but smooth. The *Snow White* live-action remake has generated significant headlines, with several controversies shaping public perception and the film's narrative direction. These issues are key to understanding why this version is so different from its predecessor.

1. The "Snow White is Not Snow White" Casting Backlash

The initial announcement of Rachel Zegler, an actress of Colombian descent, as Snow White immediately sparked a racist backlash online. Critics argued that the casting was inconsistent with the character's name, which literally translates to "skin as white as snow." Disney and Zegler defended the casting, emphasizing the importance of diversity and representation in modern retellings of classic stories.

2. The Peter Dinklage Dwarf Criticism

In 2022, *Game of Thrones* star Peter Dinklage publicly criticized Disney for the "Seven Dwarfs" concept, calling it a "backward story" that perpetuated harmful stereotypes about little people. This criticism directly led to Disney’s announcement that they would replace the dwarfs with "seven magical companions" of various genders, ethnicities, and statures, a monumental change in the source material.

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3. Rachel Zegler's "Feminist" Comments

Zegler herself generated significant controversy with comments suggesting the film would be a "feminist" update. She stated that the new Snow White would not be saved by a prince and would be less focused on a love story, joking that the original's romantic elements were "weird." These comments were met with backlash from fans who felt she was disrespecting the 1937 classic and its legacy.

4. The Replacement of Prince Charming with Jonathan

In line with the feminist update, the iconic Prince Charming has been replaced by Andrew Burnap's character, Jonathan. Jonathan is described as a commoner and a love interest, but the shift signifies a move away from the "damsel in distress" trope, where the princess's fate is tied to a royal rescuer.

5. The Unofficial Leaked Set Photos

In 2023, unofficial set photos were leaked, showing Snow White with her seven companions. The images, which Disney later claimed were "not official," fueled the debate as they showed a diverse group of actors, confirming the major departure from the traditional dwarf portrayal.

6. The Writers' Strike and Production Delays

Like many major Hollywood projects, the *Snow White* live-action was impacted by the WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes. The original 2024 release date was pushed back to March 21, 2025, due to the production halt and post-production needs, further extending the period of public scrutiny.

7. Budget and Box Office Pressure

The film is reportedly one of the most expensive Disney live-action remakes, with a massive budget to account for the elaborate sets, costumes, and special effects required for a modern fantasy musical. The high cost, coupled with the surrounding controversies, places intense pressure on the film to perform exceptionally well at the box office to justify the creative and financial risks taken by Disney.

Despite the heated debates, the film represents Disney's continued commitment to modernizing its classic library for a new generation. With a stellar cast including Rachel Zegler and Gal Gadot, and a bold new narrative direction, the 2025 *Snow White* is guaranteed to be one of the most talked-about movie events of the year.