The son of the original Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs director has blasted Disney’s “radical” remake of the “pathetic” film, accusing the company of failing to live up to the classics.
David Hand, 91, whose namesake father directed the original 1937 animation, has chastised Walt Disney Studios for pursuing an “insulting” and “woke” remake of the film that sought to “destroy” its predecessor.
He said the new adaptation would have both his father and Walt Disney himself “turning in their graves” as he slammed the upcoming film starring Rachel Zegler as the titular character.
It’s just the latest Disney remake in a long line of live-action “reimaginings” that have seen classic 20th century animation rewritten for today’s audiences.
It comes after several videos appeared online of Zegler, 22, destroying the original film – saying she ‘hated’ it and thought it was ‘extremely dated’.
The seven ‘magical creatures’ of Snow White can be seen in this behind-the-scenes footage after bosses changed characters amid criticism over the film’s outdated portrayal
David Hand, 91, whose father of the same name directed the original 1937 animation Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (pictured), has chastised Walt Disney Studios for pursuing an ‘insulting’ and ‘woke’ remake of the film .
Rachel Zegler attends the Los Angeles Premiere of Warner Bros.’ ‘Shazam! Fury Of The Gods’ at the Regency Village Theater on March 14, 2023 in Los Angeles
Mr Hand said The telegraph that many young people had not even seen the film and therefore “don’t know what they are talking about”. He said their views “misunderstand” the film.
He said the information known so far about the new film, which is due out in March 2024, turns out to be a “totally different concept”.
“I know my dad and Walt would disagree with that very much as well,” he told the publication, adding that the first film was produced in “good taste.”
Mr Hand added that it was “pathetic” that people needed to feel animosity towards the image which is soon approaching nine decades old.
Amid outcry over other Disney remakes – including this year’s The Little Mermaid – Mr Hand chastised the company for feeling it had to recreate classic films.
He called their thoughts “radical” and said he was afraid to see what they would continue to do with other early films, adding that it was a “shame”.
Mr Hand said some of the remakes changed so much that the original characters and stories were no longer the same.
He said they were “inventing new woke things” and had “no respect for what Disney did and what my dad did”.
Rachel Zegler to Play Disney Princess in Upcoming Live-Action Remake
An actress stand is pictured in Snow White’s outfit in the latest footage from the film set in Bedfordshire, UK
Rachel Zegler attends SAG-AFTRA members hosting the ‘Rock The City For A Fair Contract’ rally in Times Square on July 25
As Disney has focused on revamping live-action versions of its classic films in recent years, it has called on company bosses to focus on new, original ideas.
Mr. Hand said they should create new characters, not destroy a classic.
It comes after Zegler said she thought the prince in the 1937 animation was a “stalker”, whose “strange” storyline won’t feature in the new remake.
The West Side Story actress also said her character would be “a fantastic lead” amid speculation the film wouldn’t be the classic love story.
Zegler told Variety in an interview, “She won’t be saved by the prince and she won’t dream of true love.”
Mr Hand said original Snow White voice actor Adriana Caselotti – whom Mr Hand said he met on several occasions – said she would be “terrified” by suggestions that her character was not a feminist .
Zegler stars alongside Gal Gadot who will take on the role of the Evil Queen
In an interview with Variety, Zegler (left) also said she won’t be portraying the beloved character as she was seen in the 1937 cartoon.
Other changes to the new production include replacing seven dwarfs with “magical creatures”. The characters all seem to be a mix of genders, ethnicities, and sizes.
Disney decided the seven dwarfs would be replaced in the new version to “avoid reinforcing stereotypes” after Game of Thrones actor Peter Dinklage criticized “the story upside down” last year. Given the changes to the characters, the film should be called Snow White, removing the seven companions from the title.
There are also suggestions that the classic song “Someday My Prince Will Come” has also been removed.
MailOnline approached Disney for a comment but they did not immediately respond.
