Tarsem Singh’s The Brothers Grimm: Snow White (the film’s permanent title is still in question) and Universal’s Snow White and the Huntsman are now scheduled to be released in theaters. Universal had a press release on May 15, officially announcing that its “epic action-adventure” take on the fairy tale Snow White will be in theaters on June 1, 2012, a full six months earlier than its original release date in December 2012. That’s four weeks exactly before The Brothers Grimm: Snow White, which will be playing alongside Universal’s flick on June 29.
In regards to Snow White and the Huntsman, the cast is finally on track. Kristen Stewart was already confirmed for the title role, but it is now definite that Thor’s Chris Hemsworth is to star as the Huntsman and Sam Claflin (newcomer from Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides) is Prince Charming. Charlize Theron is the choice for the role of the evil queen/stepmother, while greenhorn director Rupert Sanders has his work cut out for him in this dark, Gothic retelling of the famous fairy tale. Not only does Snow White escape death due to the unlikely help of her assassin, the Huntsman, he also teaches her how to defeat her stepmother and…the rest you’ll have to see in theaters when the movie comes out.
However, experienced director Tarsem Singh is in charge of considerable competition. He has assembled an equally formidable all-star cast to promote his Snow White adaptation, with Lily Collins as the beautiful princess, Armie Hammer as Prince Charming, and Julia Roberts as the wicked queen. Principal photography on The Brothers Grimm: Snow White is scheduled to begin this month, but Relativity Media is still deciding whether to aim for an earlier spring 2012 release date.
Obviously, public interest will increase and lean towards the Snow White film that premieres first, a certain race-to-the-finish for both Relativity Media and Universal.