Director's Son Criticizes Remake of "Snow White": Father Restless in Afterlife

The descendant of the original director of "Snow White" has sharply criticized Disney's live-action remake, raising concerns over the creative direction and its impact on his father's legacy. In an interview with The Daily Telegraph, David Hand's son, the 91-year-old David Hand Jr., openly refuted earlier comments made by Rachel Ziegler, the former lead actress. Ziegler had stated that the new version of "Snow White" would portray a drastically different narrative, with the protagonist no longer desiring love but aspiring for leadership. Furthermore, she depicted the prince as a stalker, and the dwarfs to be replaced by mystical creatures. Hand countered, "Many youngsters have never seen the original, hence they have no understanding of what they're discussing."

He staunchly believed that the new rendition deviates significantly from the essence of the original and the intentions of its creators. "This new concept completely diverges from the heart of the original work. I cannot agree with it, and I'm certain my father and Walt Disney would share the sentiment of disapproval. It's disheartening... these are artistic forms that have been integrated into the contemporary film world... the original had a remarkable taste during its creation... I completely disagree with this novel notion... however, I comprehend why Disney is captivated by it."

"Disney is attempting to build on the immense success of the early days to create something fresh. I am deeply concerned that their alterations to early classics... their current approach is overly radical. They've altered the storyline, shifted character mindsets, and this is no longer the original tale. They've introduced trendy cultural elements, which I find no interest in." He asserted, "Frankly, I believe this may constitute disrespect towards certain classic films. Regarding the efforts of (Walt) Disney and my father, there's a complete lack of reverence. I believe, even if my father and Disney were aware of this, finding peace in the afterlife would be challenging."

Hand further appealed for the preservation of the dignity of the classic characters, stating, "If adaptation is a must... why not create new characters instead of tarnishing the beauty of these classic works?"

Disney's live-action remake of "Snow White" is scheduled for release in 2024.