Disney’s live-action adaptation of Snow White is finally set to premiere in just over two weeks, bringing Marc Webb’s take on the 1937 animated classic to the big screen. The film has faced numerous hurdles along the way, and now, Disney has officially confirmed a major change to one of its central characters.
Instead of the classic prince character from the original film, this new version introduces a completely different figure named Jonathan, played by Andrew Burnap. Disney has now revealed more about Jonathan’s backstory, confirming his role in the upcoming film.
According to the Spring 2025 edition of D23 magazine (via The Direct), Jonathan’s character was inspired by an abandoned concept from Walt Disney’s early drafts of the animated movie. Director Marc Webb explained:
“When writing the script, we went back to the (Walt Disney) Archives to understand how Walt brought Snow White to life. It was humbling to see the amount of work and care that went into the making of that magnificent piece of art. One sketch that didn’t make it into the original film—about the Prince being held in the dungeon—really stuck with me. It was a storyline that Walt never got to complete to his satisfaction. So, in a sense, Jonathan was our effort to pick up where he left off.”
Andrew Burnap, known for his work in WeCrashed and Under the Banner of Heaven, provided additional insight into Jonathan’s place in the story.
“Jonathan finds himself quite disillusioned with the power structures of the world he lives in and is part of a certain resistance to those power structures,” he said. “When we meet him, he is just looking for a reason to find a sense of fight in himself again, that sense of hope that seems to be missing from the world.”
Burnap added: “There are certain times in life where your sense of hope and resistance is knocked down a few pegs and you’re just looking for something that will reignite the fire within you. And that’s certainly the place where Jonathan finds himself.”
The actor also described Jonathan as someone who injects humor into serious situations, with Rachel Zegler having compared him previously to Flynn Rider from Disney’s 2010 animated hit Tangled.
Zegler and Gal Gadot, who portray Snow White and the Evil Queen, will bring their performances to the screen when the film debuts exclusively in theaters on March 21, 2025. However, their recent appearance at the 97th Academy Awards left some wondering whether their on-screen chemistry will be as engaging as Disney hopes.
From the outset, Snow White has been surrounded by controversy. The backlash to Zegler’s past remarks on the original film, criticism of the depiction of the dwarfs, and discussions over Gadot’s casting as a former IDF soldier have all fueled debate. Compounding these concerns is the film’s reported $300 million budget (via Forbes), with projections suggesting a domestic opening of just $53 million—an underwhelming number for a Disney tentpole.
One of the most widely discussed aspects of the adaptation is the creative direction of the project, which is written by Greta Gerwig (Barbie) and Erin Cressida Wilson (The Girl on the Train). Zegler’s 2022 remarks about how this Snow White will not seek love or rely on a prince—whom she claimed “stalks” the princess—sparked significant backlash. While she has since acknowledged that the criticism stems from fans’ deep connection to the original, the controversy has persisted leading up to the film’s delayed release.
Despite Zegler’s past comments downplaying romance in the film, Webb has suggested that it will still play a role in the story. “We’ve been careful to preserve the iconography of Snow White that we love while also exploring Snow White’s romance and romantic relationship a bit more deeply,” the director shared.
Disney’s Snow White arrives in theaters on March 21, 2025. The cast includes Rachel Zegler as Snow White, Gal Gadot as the Evil Queen, Andrew Burnap as Jonathan, Ansu Kabia as the Huntsman, Jeremy Swift as Doc, Andrew Barth Feldman as Dopey, Tituss Burgess as Bashful, George Salazar as Happy, Martin Klebba as Grumpy, Andy Grotelueschen as Sleepy, and Jason Kravits as Sneezy.
What do you think of Disney’s decision to replace the prince with Jonathan in this adaptation? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
