— News and Analysis —
Twitter Is Confused: Andrew Burnap Cast As Lead Male Character In Disney's New 'Snow White' But Not As Prince Or Huntsman
By Amanda Harding
Bruce Glikas/WireImage
Disney fans are so confused right now.
The company has several live-action remakes in the works, including "The Little Mermaid," "Lilo & Stitch," and "Pinocchio." But "Snow White" is currently getting the most buzz as the studio cast Tony Award winning actor Andrew Burnap as a male lead in the movie, but confirmed he will not be playing the prince or the huntsman, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
This surprising addition must mean that Disney is taking liberties with storytelling and changing up the structure of the original story. The animated version of Disney's "Snow White & the Seven Dwarfs" was released in 1937 and holds the distinction of being the first full-length traditionally animated film the studio ever made. Like so many other Disney movies, the story is based on a Brothers Grimm fairy tale. The newest version of "Snow White" will be just another in a long line of remakes.
But none of this explains who Burnap will play and how it will affect the narrative. So far, it's been confirmed that Rachel Zegler will be depicting Snow White while Gal Gadot is playing the Evil Queen. Oscar-nominated producer Marc Platt, who is also doing the live-action rendition of "The Little Mermaid," is producing "Snow White" as well.
Twitter followers reacted to the news with confusion, wondering what role Burnap will play.
"In these Woke times I thought he was going to play Snow White," one person quipped.
Others questioned why the live remakes were still being made despite lackluster reviews for previous efforts, including "Aladdin," "The Lion King," "Mulan," "Cinderella," "The Jungle Book," "Lady & the Tramp," and a whole host of others.
"Another remake absolutely nobody asked for," another person replied.
Disney does seem to be drumming up publicity for the new film, which is scheduled to begin production this spring in the U.K. They kept the announcement vague on purpose, likely to get people talking about what role Burnap might play in the new movie. And so far their method is working.
Burnap is best known for his stage work in King Lear, Troilus and Cressida, This Day Forward, and The Inheritance, which is the show he won a Tony Award for. The 30-year-old Rhode Island native also took part in some smaller indie movies including "Spare Room" and "The Chaperone."
The actor has expressed his thoughts on breaking down stereotypes about masculinity before. In an interview with Glamour UK, Burnap discussed how he believes men should learn to get in touch with their "vulnerability."
"But to me, the power of brotherhood is in…vulnerability. Seeing, understanding that there's a beautiful power in softness and vulnerability, specifically in men I think is something that we have to hold onto," Burnap said.
"We have to teach the younger men that you don't have to be any idea of what a man means. I feel like there's this handed down thing of John Wayne, a stiff upper lip, no crying, no showing emotion, providing for people and I think is sort of detrimental to true brotherhood."