For a significant amount of time, it felt like Disney had done something new. By imagining their classic animated features into beautiful live-action masterpieces, Disney was bringing new life to old stories. However, in recent years, Disney’s live-action remakes have seemed to lose sight of what the pioneer films once held, magic and creativity. Disney’s latest live-action works have often felt like the same old cash grabs, rather than meaningful additions to the stories we know and love.
To begin, one of the first of its kind – the live-action remake of Cinderella (2015) – is a prime example of the essence that these films once had. This remake beautifully expands on the original story, yet adds depth to Cinderella’s character and her motivations. By giving us additional insight into her late mother’s influence, the film explains why Cinderella remains kind and brave in the face of cruelty. The lush visuals and modernized narrative stayed true to the original while offering something fresh. Similarly, Maleficent (2014) reimagined Sleeping Beauty but in an extremely new way. Angelina Jolie delivered a compelling portrayal of one of Disney’s most iconic and powerful villains, offering audiences a backstory that made her relatable without losing the original story’s feeling of nostalgia and magic. These films proved that live-action adaptations could enhance beloved classics with thoughtful storytelling and stunning visuals.
Yet, recently Disney’s live-action landscape has changed for the worse. Many recent remakes lack the heart and innovation that made Cinderella and Maleficent successful. Films like Pinocchio and Lady and the Tramp were released directly to Disney+, bypassing the big screen entirely. While these movies aren’t terrible, they add little to the original stories and seem more like quick money grabs. The same criticism applies to The Lion King (2019). Although amazing CGI, the film did not add more to the original animated film, ultimately making it just a high-budget recreation rather than a creative reinterpretation like that of Maleficent or Cinderella.
This brings us to today, with the live-action Snow White remake coming out on March 21st, 2025. It is hard to argue with Rachel Zegler – a phenomenal and accredited actress – being cast as the lead; however, there is no doubt that with this cast they really are reimagining Snow White as a character. For instance, in interviews, Zegler has mentioned how the reimagined story shifts away from the “damsel in distress” archetype that the original story follows. While this could be a revolutionary change, it has been criticized. While modernizing outdated stories can be valuable, it is important not to erase the qualities of the original characters that still remain valuable in our time.
Personally, I see Snow White’s femininity and sweetness as a sign of her strength. The way she takes care of the seven dwarfs and acts as a motherly figure to them can teach young girls that being a gentle and motherly woman is just as acceptable as how princesses like Moana teach young girls that independence and adventure are. When asking Maya Tsegaye (12) her thoughts on the retelling of Snow White as an independent character, she stated, “While I’m all for girl-power, I think that Snow White’s original character shouldn’t be erased. If Disney wants to have princesses who are strong and independent, they should simply continue to make new characters instead of changing the old ones” and I couldn’t agree more. Natalia Soto (12) agreed, explaining that she doesn’t “see why Snow White can’t stay true to her original character” and that there is nothing wrong with women being gentle and nurturing.
Overall, it is undoubtedly that Disney has been a pioneer in storytelling for the last century. However, it feels as though in their most recent live-action remakes, profit has been prioritized over creativity and innovative storytelling. If the studio wants to recapture the magic of old stories, they should focus on making a thoughtful adaptation that respects the heart of the original story, while contributing more thoughtfulness to the story. While it is important to adjust problematic aspects of the past in new films, it is important to keep the unproblematic parts in order to help the original legacy of stories we have loved for generations to live on.
