‘My father and Walt would be turning in their graves’: Son of original Snow White director blasts ‘pathetic’ new version starring Rachel Zegler and accuses ‘radical’ Disney of having no respect for classics
- David Hand rebuked Disney Studios for pursuing an ‘insulting’ and ‘woke’ remake
- The director’s son said the new movie sought to ‘destroy’ its 1937 predecessor
The son of the original Snow White And The Seven Dwarfs director has blasted Disney’s ‘pathetic’ live-action ‘radical’ remake of the movie, accusing the company of having no respect for classics.
David Hand, 91, whose father of the same name directed the original 1937 animation, rebuked Walt Disney Studios for pursuing an ‘insulting’ and ‘woke’ remake of the movie 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 movie starring Rachel Zegler as the titular character.
This is just the lasted Disney remake in a long string of live-action ‘reimaginings’ that has seen 20th century classic animations rewritten for today’s audience.
It comes after several videos emerged online of Zegler, 22, trashing the original movie – saying she ‘hated’ it and thought it was ‘extremely dated’.
Snow White’s seven ‘magical creatures’ can be seen in these behind-the-scenes pictures after bosses changed the characters amid criticism of the out-of-date portrayal of the film
David Hand, 91, whose father of the same name directed the original 1937 Snow White And The Seven Dwarfs animation (pictured), rebuked Walt Disney Studios for pursuing an ‘insulting’ and ‘woke’ remake of the movie
Rachel Zegler attends the Los Angeles Premiere of Warner Bros.’ ‘Shazam! Fury Of The Gods’ at the Regency Village Theatre on March 14, 2023 in Los Angeles
Mr Hand told The Telegraph that many younger people had not even seen the film and so ‘don’t know what they’re talking about’. He said their views ‘misunderstand’ the film.
READ MORE: Snow White and the Seven… Politically-Correct Companions? First pictures of new live-action remake
He said the information known so far about the new movie, set to be released in March 2024, was proving to be a ‘whole different concept’.
‘I know my dad and Walt would also very much disagree with it,’ he told the publication, adding that the first movie was produced in ‘good taste’.
Mr Hand added that it was ‘pathetic’ that people needed to feel animosity towards the picture which is soon approaching nine decades old.
Amid the outcry about other Disney remakes – including this year’s The Little Mermaid – Mr Hand rebuked the company for feeling it needed to recreate classic movies.
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 ‘disgrace’.
Mr Hand said some of the remakes had been changed so much that the characters and the original stories weren’t the same anymore.
He said they were ‘making up new woke things’ and that they have ‘no respect for what Disney did and what my dad did’.
Rachel Zegler will play the Disney princess in the upcoming live action remake
A stand in actress is pictured in Snow White’s outfit in the latest pictures from the set of the film in Bedfordshire, UK
Rachel Zegler attends as SAG-AFTRA members hold ‘Rock The City For A Fair Contract’ rally in Times Square on July 25
While Disney has focused on remaking live-action versions of its classic films in recent years, he called on bosses of the company to turn their focus on new original ideas.
Mr Hand said they should create new characters and not destroy a classic.
It comes after Zegler said she thought the Prince in the 1937 animation was a ‘stalker’, whose ‘weird’ storyline won’t feature in the new remake.
The West Side Story actress also said her character would be ‘a fantastic leader’ amid speculation the film won’t be the classic love story.
Zegler told Variety in an interview: ‘She’s not going to be saved by the prince and she’s not going to be dreaming about true love.’
Mr Hand said the original voice actor for Snow White, Adriana Caselotti – whom Mr Hand said he met multiple times – said she would be ‘terrified’ of suggestions that her character wasn’t 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 would not be portraying the beloved character the way she was seen in the 1937 cartoon
Other changes to the new production include seven dwarfs being replaced by ‘magical creatures’. The characters all appear to be a mix of genders, ethnicities and heights.
Disney made the decision that the seven dwarfs would be replaced in the new version to ‘avoid reinforcing stereotypes’ after Game of Thrones actor Peter Dinklage criticized the ‘f****** backwards story’ last year. Given the changes to the characters, the film is set to be called Snow White, dropping the seven companions from the title.
There are also suggestions that the classic song ‘Someday My Prince Will Come’ has also been scrapped.’
MailOnline approached Disney for comment but they did not immediately respond.
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