Actors with dwarfism are planning to rally outside Disney Studios in protest at the company's $250m remake of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, which replaces the original characters with CGI figures.
Actress Ali Chapman, 50, who is 3ft 8in tall, branded the remake “a total travesty” and said little people had flown in from around the world to tell Disney “it isn’t acceptable”.
Chapman said: “It’s a total travesty. People have come from everywhere to tell Disney it isn’t acceptable.”
Her husband, actor Matt McCarthy, who is 4ft 1in and also has dwarfism, said: “We've been totally shut out but we're not going down quietly. It’s hard enough in Hollywood. Everyone's trying to make their dreams come true. When you're a little person opportunities are few and far between. I was born to play Dopey.”
The film previously drew criticism from actor Peter Dinklage, star of Cyrano, who questioned Disney’s approach, given its commitment to diversity. He said in an earlier interview: “It makes no sense to me. You’re progressive in one way, but then you’re still making that f****** backward story about seven dwarfs living in a cave together.”
Organiser Jeff Beacher called Disney’s decision “a disgrace”, saying: “If Hollywood is about inclusion and diversity then you could have had talented little people actors in all of these roles. This is a moment in history. Equality is a movement but when it comes to little people no-one in Hollywood is listening.”
The dwarfs from the original movie have been replaced by CGI characters which Disney is calling “magical creatures”.
The planned protest follows controversy around lead actress Rachel Zegler, who previously described Prince Charming as “a guy who literally stalks” Snow White.
Her casting itself had already drawn criticism, with some claiming the film was too “woke” for selecting Zegler, a Latina actress, for the traditionally white character.
