Disney’s ‘Snow White’ Hollywood Premiere Will Be a Smaller Event – and Was Always Planned That Way

Disney’s “Snow White” event in Los Angeles on Saturday, a combination premiere and celebration of Marc Webb’s update of the 1937 masterpiece, was always meant to be a smaller scale event. While reports are highlighting the Saturday afternoon screening and pre-party, held at Disney’s El Capitan Theatre, as some kind of pivot, those with knowledge of the situation assure TheWrap that this was always the plan for the “Snow White” launch.

“Snow White” has shouldered its fair share of controversy – from fan backlash to comments star Rachel Zegler has made about the protagonist of the remake not being bogged down by outdated notions of romance, to the inclusion of the seven dwarfs, something “Game of Thrones” star Peter Dinklage pointed out on an episode of “WTF” with Marc Maron last year. “Take a step back and look at what you’re doing there,” Dinklage urged.

Following the Dinklage remarks, Disney released a statement to ABC News that said, in part, “To avoid reinforcing stereotypes from the original animated film, we are taking a different approach with these seven characters and have been consulting with members of the dwarfism community.” (The characters were described as “magical creatures” in casting notices and were ultimately brought to life via computer animation.)

There has also been the delicate issue of stars Zelger and Gal Gadot, who appears as the Evil Queen in the remake, and their opposing political stances. Zegler has been outspoken in championing a free Palestine and wanting a ceasefire in the Middle East, while Gadot literally served for two years in the Israel Defense Forces and was recently honored at the Anti-Defamation League’s annual summit in New York, where she gave an impassioned speech. Their recent appearance together at the Academy Awards was chilly at best.

It was with all of this in mind that the studio planned a purposefully low-key event, one free of journalists flanking the red carpet. Instead, there will be photographers and an in-house crew documenting the event.

Zegler and Gadot will still be at the premiere in Hollywood. And both actresses are on tour supporting the movie, making appearances and doing various promotional events.

“Snow White” opens everywhere on March 21.

The post Disney’s ‘Snow White’ Hollywood Premiere Will Be a Smaller Event – and Was Always Planned That Way appeared first on TheWrap.