Over the past decade, Disney has released numerous live-action versions of their iconic animated films, with mixed results. While many of these films have enjoyed commercial success, there’s been increasing backlash as the studio works to diversify the casting of their characters—especially when it comes to beloved princesses like Snow White.
In recent years, Disney has made efforts to modernize its traditionally white princesses, creating controversy among some fans who feel these changes go against the original depiction of the characters. This was particularly evident in the 2023 live-action The Little Mermaid, where Halle Bailey was cast as Ariel, a decision that stirred up plenty of conversation. For some viewers, Bailey’s casting was a refreshing update, while others struggled with the departure from the original character’s look.
“I really like the Little Mermaid remake. It’s one of my favorite Disney live-action remakes,” junior Vanessa Xhemollari said. “I love Halle Bailey’s performance and her skin color compared to the cartoon doesn’t take away from the story.”
Despite the support for Bailey’s portrayal of Ariel, it seems Disney’s latest venture into live-action remakes—Snow White—has faced more vocal criticism, especially regarding its cast and visual design. Rachel Zegler, who plays the titular character, and Gal Gadot, who stars as the Evil Queen, have not been received well by all viewers.
“I love Rachel Zegler but the Snow White movie looks so bad especially because of the makeup, hair and costumes,” senior Olivia Amalio said. “Gal Gadot’s acting also looks really bad.”
“Snow White is supposed to be white as snow, so I just find the casting of the movie to be a bit confusing,” junior Viktoria Krasnici said. ” The Little Mermaid is a fish, so I don’t think skin color adds anything to the plot, but Snow White is supposed to be really pale, so I feel like the change really takes away from the story.”
With the film’s release in March 2025, the box office numbers have been disappointing, making $87 million globally on a $240 million budget. This raises a question: will Disney continue to face such backlash over their adaptations, or can they find a way to strike a balance between staying true to the source material and embracing a more diverse approach?
The fate of Snow White and Disney’s future live-action remakes hangs in the balance. Will the studio be able to win back skeptical fans, or will they continue to “drop the magic ball,” as many critics have put it? Only time will tell, but for now, it seems Disney has some work to do in pleasing the fans of both old and new adaptations.
