Earlier this year, it was reported that Disney intended to expand upon the Snow White mythology, with a “live-action companion piece,” told from the perspective of the character’s sister, Rose Red – as depicted in the original Grimms’ fairy tales – to be written by Justin Merz and Evan Daugherty. Little more has been heard about that project, but that announcement has been somewhat overtaken by the news that an actual Snow White re-telling is now in the works, with Erin Cressida Wilson writing the script.
Disney has been mining the Snow White property for fresh material ever since delivering Snow White And The Seven Dwarfs in 1937. In addition to the high profile feature film projects, Mirror Mirror and Snow White And The Huntsman, Snow White has appeared in TV movies, TV shows, short films, theme parks, and a stage musical. This new feature film will be a live-action musical, with original songs written by Benj Pasek and Justin Paul (La La Land). It will be produced by Marc Platt (who is also working on Mary Poppins Returns), with a script by Erin Cressida Wilson, who previously wrote the adapted screenplay for The Girl On The Train.
The live-action re-telling of previously told stories is clearly the next phase of development for Disney, which has Beauty And The Beast heading for theatres in 2017, Mulan due for release in 2018, and a Guy-Ritchie-directed Aladdin currently in development. There is, as yet, no director attached to Snow White, nor have any of the roles been cast – but there is a case to be made for the idea that Disney may be seeking to release the film in late 2017, to mark the 80th anniversary of the original movie. We’ll be keeping watch for casting and director announcements – as well as any information about the impact this might have on the Rose Red project.
