Disney’s Snow White has officially arrived, giving audiences the chance to see the much-discussed remake for themselves. With debates raging over casting choices, storyline alterations, and the handling of the dwarf characters, the film has generated intense conversation. Now, viewers can decide where they stand on Rachel Zegler’s portrayal of the titular princess and Gal Gadot’s turn as the Evil Queen.
One of the most striking changes is the introduction of Jonathan, a brand-new character who replaces the original Prince. Played by Under the Banner of Heaven star Andrew Burnap, Jonathan is a bandit with a knack for robbing the Evil Queen’s palace and redistributing wealth to those in need. His presence has drawn immediate comparisons to Flynn Rider from Tangled, sparking discussion about what this means for the upcoming live-action adaptation of that film.
Zegler herself addressed the similarity prior to the movie's March 21 release, telling D23 Magazine (via X), “I think people aren't expecting the humor that Andrew's character, Jonathan, will bring to the story. […] I think the most comparable character would be Flynn Rider in *Tangled*.”
That connection could prove problematic for Disney, as the company is already in development on a live-action Tangled remake. Variety previously confirmed the project, reporting, “The studio is developing a reimagining of the 2010 animated movie, a musical take on the Brothers Grimm story about the magically long-haired princess Rapunzel.” The outlet also revealed that The Greatest Showman director Michael Gracey is in talks to direct, while Jennifer Kaytin Robinson (Do Revenge, Thor: Love and Thunder) is set to write the script. However, no casting details have been announced.
With Jonathan already drawing direct comparisons to Flynn, the question now is whether Disney will differentiate the two characters or end up with two versions of the same archetype in different films.
Disney’s live-action strategy has yielded mixed results. While Beauty and the Beast (2017) and The Lion King (2019) soared past the billion-dollar mark, others, like Pinocchio (2022) and Alice Through the Looking Glass (2016), struggled to make an impact. Meanwhile, adaptations such as Peter Pan & Wendy (2023) and The Little Mermaid (2023) became hot-button topics in cultural and political debates, and Snow White has followed suit.
Casting controversy has surrounded Snow White since its early development. Zegler and Gadot were officially cast in 2021, and much like the reaction to Halle Bailey’s portrayal of Ariel, Zegler’s casting as the iconic princess sparked widespread discussion. The film’s feminist reinterpretation also became a major talking point, particularly after Zegler’s remarks about removing the traditional Prince, whom she described as “stalking” Snow White.
Debate over the dwarf characters further fueled discourse. Some members of the dwarfism community criticized Disney for making the film, while others took issue with the studio’s decision to use CGI instead of casting dwarf actors.
After a subdued promotional rollout—including scaled-back premiere events in both North America and Europe—Snow White was finally released on March 21, 2025. Despite the discourse surrounding it, Disney’s live-action machine continues moving forward.
Next in line is Lilo & Stitch, set to premiere in just over two months. Though anticipation is high, the film has already faced backlash over its casting of Lilo’s sister, Nani. Looking further ahead, Disney has Hercules and Tangled, among others, in the pipeline.
So, is Snow White’s Jonathan a sign that Disney is reusing character templates too frequently? Or will the studio manage to differentiate Flynn Rider when Tangled makes its way to the big screen? Let us know what you think in the comments!
Yes, I feel that the company is reusing templates and not just character templates. They’re reusing plot templates. At the end of “Wish”, the town folk all rise up against the villain, and the villain ends up trapped behind glass within his staff. Similarly at the end of Snow White the town folk all rise up against the villian, and the villain ends up trapped behind glass in her magic mirror.