Actress Ali Chapman Discusses Studios Decision To Use CGI
Disney is facing backlash from little people actors after the studio opted to use CGI for the seven dwarfs in its upcoming Snow White remake instead of hiring actors with dwarfism. The decision has sparked outrage among performers who argue that Disney has taken away one of the few opportunities available to them in Hollywood.
Actress Ali Chapman, who stands 3 feet 8 inches tall, expressed her frustration in an interview with the Daily Mail. “The whole point of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs is right up there in the title,” Chapman said. “The seven dwarfs were the stars of the original 1937 film, which is a classic loved by millions of people.” She criticized Disney for scrapping those roles and replacing them with CGI instead of casting little people actors.
Chapman’s husband, Matt McCarthy, who is 4 feet 1 inch tall, echoed her frustration, calling the decision a betrayal.
“We’ve been totally shut out, but we’re not going down quietly,” McCarthy said. “It’s hard enough in Hollywood. Everyone’s trying to make their dreams come true. When you’re a little person, opportunities are few and far between. I was born to play Dopey the dwarf. It’s my dream role, but Disney never gave me a chance.”
Dozens of Little People Actors Prepare to Protest Outside Disney Studios in Los Angeles Over the Controversial Replacement of Dwarfs with CGI in Snow White Remake https://t.co/u9lY2KyOCU pic.twitter.com/lVo2SxdIoV
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Jordanna James, another little person actress, also criticized the move. “Hollywood is trying to erase us,” she said. “Everyone goes on about wokeism and inclusion, and yet we are constantly overlooked and kept in the shadows. It’s hard enough to go out in the real world and be seen. We exist. Let us have the same opportunities as other people.”
The controversy traces back to comments made by Game of Thrones actor Peter Dinklage, who criticized the Snow White remake when it was first announced. “You’re progressive in one way, but then you’re still making that f***ing backward story about seven dwarfs living in a cave together,” Dinklage said.
Following his remarks, Disney distanced itself from the traditional portrayal of the dwarfs, stating that it wanted to “avoid reinforcing stereotypes from the original animated film.” Initially, images surfaced showing adult actors of varying heights playing the dwarfs, which triggered backlash. Disney later decided to use CGI to create the characters instead.
The studio has not publicly addressed the latest wave of criticism, but with little people actors now planning to protest, the controversy surrounding Snow White is far from over.