Alright, folks, buckle up because this Snow White remake saga just keeps getting wilder. In what can only be described as a desperate attempt to avoid the growing backlash, Disney has officially taken the premiere for its $269 million live-action “Snow White” to… a remote medieval castle in Spain.
That’s right. Instead of the usual Hollywood fanfare, red carpets, and flashing cameras, Disney is tucking this one away in the tiny city of Segovia, far from the prying eyes of the press.
Now, why would a studio as massive as Disney go to such lengths to keep this movie under wraps? Well, let’s just say the road to release has been “bumpy”, to put it mildly. The film has been a lightning rod for controversy since the moment Disney announced its modern reimagining.
First, there was the decision to cast Rachel Zegler—a talented actress, no doubt, but one whose public comments have made her a polarizing figure—as Snow White.
Then came the “big” changes to the original fairy tale: no Prince Charming, no classic love story, and the seven dwarfs replaced by a “diverse” group of magical creatures. You can probably guess how that went over with longtime Disney fans.
And if that wasn’t enough, Zegler herself hasn’t exactly helped with damage control. From dismissing the 1937 animated classic as “extremely dated” to making it clear that her Snow White isn’t looking for love but instead dreams of becoming a “fearless leader,” her interviews have only added fuel to the fire.
At one point, she even joked that her co-star Andrew Burnap’s scenes (he plays a new male lead) might end up on the cutting room floor. That kind of casual dismissal of an integral part of the original story? Yeah, it didn’t sit well with a lot of people.
So, here we are. Instead of a grand Hollywood premiere, Disney has opted for the Alcázar of Segovia—a stunning location, sure, but also a highly controlled environment where press access is “severely” limited. It’s a striking move for a company that usually thrives on media spectacle, and it speaks volumes about just how much they’re bracing for impact.
Back in the U.S., things aren’t looking much better. A scaled-down event is planned at L.A.’s El Capitan Theatre, but again—press access will be highly restricted, and the only real coverage will come from Disney-approved photographers. If that doesn’t scream “damage control”, I don’t know what does.
It’s clear Disney is banking on nostalgia and spectacle to carry this film through, but with so much controversy swirling around it, the question remains: will audiences actually show up? Or is this just another high-profile misstep in Disney’s ongoing struggle to balance nostalgia with modern messaging? Only time will tell, but one thing’s for sure—this “Snow White” isn’t getting the fairytale rollout Disney was hoping for.
