Rachel Zegler as Snow White. Photo:
Phillip Faraone/Getty Images for Allegra; Courtesy of Disney
Disney is reimagining the story of Snow White for modern audiences.
The live-action film, which stars Rachel Zegler, Gal Gadot, Patrick Page, Andrew Burnap and more, sees Snow White joining forces with the seven dwarfs to liberate their kingdom from the cruel reign of her stepmother, the Evil Queen.
The movie, which premieres March 21, has had its fair share of controversies throughout the production process — from Disney’s choice to cast Zegler as Snow White to the studio being criticized for perpetuating stereotypes about dwarfs to rumors that Zegler and Gal Gadot don’t get along. But even with all the chatter, the movie remains one of the most highly an.
As the film hits theaters, see the cast of Snow White side-by-side with the characters they play.
Rachel Zegler as Snow White. Theo Wargo/Getty; Disney
Playing the titular character is Rachel Zegler, who first shot to fame playing Maria in the remake of West Side Story back in 2021. And while the chance to be a Disney Princess is a dream, it didn’t come without challenges for Zegler.
The actress, who is of Colombian and Polish descent, was subject to racist backlash as commenters noted that the original fairytale character was written with “skin as white as snow.” However, in a 2024 interview with Variety, Zegler revealed that in the live-action film, Snow White derives her name from a different place.
“It fell back to another version of Snow White that was told in history, where she survived a snowstorm that occurred when she was a baby,” Zegler told the outlet. “And so the king and queen decided to name her Snow White to remind her of her resilience.”
“One of the core points in our film for any young woman or young person is remembering how strong you actually are,” she added.
Zegler also faced criticism from fans after saying the 1937 version was outdated.
“There’s a big focus on her love story with a guy who literally stalks her. Weird, weird. So we didn’t do that this time,” she said in part, before explaining that while Andrew Burnap’s character, Jonathan, may appear to be a love interest, the live-action version focuses more on Snow White’s “inner journey that she goes on to find her true self and she meets a lot of people along the way that make the journey really incredible.”
Gal Gadot as Evil Queen. VALERIE MACON/AFP via Getty; Disney
After playing the heroic Wonder Woman, Gal Gadot turns heel to play Snow White’s villainous stepmother, Evil Queen, a change she jokingly told Jimmy Fallon was a bit devasting for her eight-year-old daughter.
And fun as it may be to play the villain, Gadot admitted that saying the Evil Queen’s classic line, “Magic Mirror on the wall, who’s the fairest of them all,” was a bit nerve-wracking. Once she put on the costume and that elaborate crown, however, the actress said she found it much easier to “fake it ’til you make it.”
Patrick Paige as Magic Mirror. John Nacion/WireImage; Disney
Voicing the Magic Mirror forced to answer the Evil Queen’s question is Patrick Page. A familiar face, Paige has been in TV shows and movies such as The Gilded Age, In the Heights, Spirited, Schmigadoon and Marvel Wastelanders: Old Man Star-Lord.
Andrew Burnap as Jonathan. Bruce Glikas/Getty; Giles Keyte/Disney
Playing Jonathan, the prince who pursues Snow White, is Andrew Burnap. The actor previously appeared in Under the Banner of Heaven, WeCrashed, The Front Room and more.
Ansu Kabia as Huntsman. Keith Mayhew/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty; Disney
Ansu Kabia plays the Evil Queen’s Huntsman, who’s ordered to kill Snow White and bring back her heart as proof. The British actor has many hits to his name already, having lent his talents to productions such as I May Destroy You, Miss Scarlett, Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs and Shaw, as well as Murder on the Orient Express.
Titus Burgess as Bashful. John Nacion/Getty; Disney
Most people will know Titus Burgess as the eccentric and over-the-top Titus Andromedon from Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, but he’s got Disney roots going back to the time he played Sebastian in Broadway’s The Little Mermaid, and the actor will be bringing his comedic chops to the role of Bashful in Snow White.
Jeremy Swift as Doc. Alan Chapman/Dave Benett/Getty; Disney
Trying to keep the dwarfs in line is Doc, the leader of the pack. Doc is played by Jeremy Swift, who’s been in Ted Lasso, Sweetpea, Descendants: Rise of Red, Doctors, Mary Poppins Returns, among other notable works.
Jason Kravits as Sneezy. VALERIE MACON/AFP via Getty; Disney
An industry veteran, Jason Kravits has had appearances in everything from As the World Turns, to 30 Rock, to Blue Bloods to The Michael J. Fox Show and plenty more. He plays Sneezy, the cute dwarf with serious sinus issues, in Snow White.
Martin Klebba as Grumpy. VALERIE MACON/AFP via Getty; Disney
Martin Klebba comes back to the world of Snow White as the voice of Grumpy. The actor, who previously appeared in two other versions of Snow White — 2012’s Mirror Mirror and 2001’s Snow White: The Fairest of Them All — defended the latest film after Peter Dinklage, who has a form of dwarfism called achondroplasia, called out the studio for repurposing a “backwards story about seven dwarfs living in a cave together.”
Klebba, who was born with a type of dwarfism called acromicric dysplasia, spoke to The Hollywood Reporter about the controversy, saying, “I don’t usually get into the political stuff, but I [felt], ‘Dwarfs aren’t going to go away just because you can’t imagine that they’re there.’ We’re still going to be walking around.”
“So I didn’t get the whole stuff about not doing the dwarfs. The story’s been around forever, and it’s a classic,” he continued.
Klebba did explain that he understands why CGI was ultimately used to create the characters, saying, “If you guys go this route, it just makes sense to be able to draw them the way you want,” the actor said. “This way, they’re all the same size. And to find seven little people actors to pull it off, that’s not an easy thing either.”
Andrew Barth Feldman as Dopey. Borja B. Hojas/Getty; Disney
Playing the cute dwarf the most endearing doe eyes is Andrew Barth Feldman, who voices Dopey. He may be young, but you already know him from credits including High School Musical: The Musical: The Series, No Hard Feelings as well as Foul Play.
Andy Grotelueschen as Sleepy. VALERIE MACON/AFP via Getty; Disney
We love a self-care king who prioritizes naps. The perpetually drowsy dwarf is voiced by Andy Grotelueschen, who has appeared in Elementary, The Good Cop, The Gilded Age, and A Complete Unknown, among other series and films.
George Salazar as Happy. Jesse Grant/Getty; Disney
Happy, whose main priority is to make sure the vibes stay upbeat, rounds out the crew. This dwarf is played by George Salazar, whom some may recognize from his time on Alice’s Wonderland Bakery, Superstore and American Crime Story.
