Greta Gerwig Reportedly Writing Disney’s Live-Action ‘Snow White’

I am excited for this movie! I hope Greta Gerwig emphasizes Snow’s strength, while also maintaining her gentle kindness. Gentleness and kindness is a strength, and just as much a reason Snow is a survivor as her willingness to negotiate a roommate contract with the dwarves and face the dangers of the unknown in the dark forest. Snow is clever and resourceful, and it takes strength to face the darkness and say “no, I will not let the darkness overtake who I am. I choose to be kind and I choose to love, and I will always choose love and hope.” There is nothing cheesy about that.
It would be nice too, to see Disney acknowledge that the original version of Snow White did not have a stepmother, rather the Evil Queen was Snow White’s birth mother. The Grimm brothers added that detail of a stepmother to the 2nd version of their fairytale collection. In the original story, Snow’s mother turned on the daughter she wished for when the mirror said that Snow White was the “fairest”. It would be nice to see Disney write the story with the original mother as the Evil queen. There aren’t many movies that acknowledge that there are many children whose birth parents are abusive and yet still choose to do the next right thing, to love, to live with hope. For some reason, Disney relegates those origin stories to villain characters. It would be refreshing to see Snow White portrayed as an example of someone who not only was a survivor, but also chose to love even when she was not originally loved by her birth mother. It would be empowering to children coming from situations like that, with abusive birth parents, to see they have the choice and the ability to become a hero too, not just a villain.
I know it’s a slim chance, Disney has portrayed the Evil Queen as Snow’s “step”mother for years. But I still hope it’s possible.
And again, showing Snow White’s struggle with trauma and overcoming to choose life and light and hope, is the biggest part of her resiliency. I hope that this new film shines a bright light on that.