Dwarf actors direct fury at Disney over CGI replacing dwarves in 'Snow White' remake

Dwarf actors slam Disney’s decision to replace the seven dwarves with CGI characters in the new 'Snow White' remake.

Dwarf actors have voiced their anger over Disney’s decision to replace the seven dwarves in the upcoming Snow White remake with CGI characters.

The live-action film, set to be released on March 21, will feature computer-generated "magical creatures" instead of actors with dwarfism, a move that many feel discriminates against them.

Among the critics, bodybuilder and performer Choon Tan, who has dwarfism, spoke to Daily Mail and said the use of CGI was "absurd" and "damaging" to their careers, as it removes a rare acting opportunity for dwarf actors. He questioned that, "They wouldn’t use CGI for a tall character, so why do they have to use it for dwarfs?," 

 

 

 

 

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A post shared by Choon Tan (@imchoontan)

Tan and fellow performers like Blake Johnston and Will Perry have shared their frustration with the decision, highlighting that casting real dwarf actors would have provided positive representation for people with dwarfism.

They argue that the decision to rely on CGI rather than casting actual dwarf might stem from a need to be politically correct but ends up harming their opportunities. This follows comments from actor Peter Dinklage, who in 2022 criticised the original portrayal of dwarves in Disney’s classic Snow White.

 

 

 

 

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A post shared by Peter Dinklage (@peterdinklage)

Disney has defended the change, claiming that the decision was made to avoid reinforcing outdated stereotypes. The company consulted with members of the dwarfism community during the production, although many still feel the move was unnecessary.

Despite this, the film, which features Rachel Zegler as Snow White and Gal Gadot as the evil queen, has generated significant controversy, with critics fearing that it prioritises political correctness over authentic storytelling.