The new trailer for Disney's live-action Snow White has arrived, and the response is about as cheerful as a poisoned apple.
Fans, critics, and social media commentators are tearing into the studio for its jarring use of CGI, particularly in the portrayal of the iconic seven dwarfs. What should have been a whimsical retelling of a beloved classic has turned into an unintended horror show, with even overseas outlets, like The Guardian, branding it “hauntingly bad.”
The CGI dwarfs appear to be the main target of the outrage. Critics haven’t held back, comparing the characters to everything from lightning-struck animatronics to poorly executed caricatures.
As one Guardian writer quipped, the characters look like “nightmare fuel.” The photorealistic woodland animals, too, are facing criticism for their uncanny resemblance to pests rather than the endearing creatures fans fondly remember.
Social media platforms are equally ablaze with ridicule. Comments range from disbelief to outright mockery. “Yikes” sums it up for many viewers who are struggling to understand how such visual choices were ever greenlit.
One particularly biting comment predicted the film’s fate, likening its potential box-office failure to a catastrophe of Hindenburg proportions.
The production woes don’t end with CGI missteps. The controversy began long before the trailer’s release, starting with a casting shakeup. Disney initially hired live actors to portray the dwarfs but pivoted to CGI after leaked photos of a diverse cast drew public criticism.
The decision didn’t sit well with many, including actor Peter Dinklage, who voiced his disapproval back in 2022, lambasting Disney for its contradictory approach to progressiveness.
Adding fuel to the fire is lead actress Rachel Zegler, whose disparaging remarks about the original fairytale and its themes have further alienated the fan base. Her comments have sparked calls for a boycott, compounding the film’s mounting troubles.