Gal Gadot will play the Evil Queen in Disney’s Snow White remake

Disney has already churned out several live-action remakes of its classic animated movies, from Beauty and the Beast to The Lion King to Dumbo and well beyond. And now they’re going back to the beginning with a remake of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, the 1937 animated spectacular that put Disney on the map and started the Disney princess craze that continues to this day.

Now, Deadline reports that Wonder Woman star Gal Gadot is in final negotiations to play the role of the Evil Queen, the villain of the piece who learns from her magic mirror that young Snow White is prettier than her, and so naturally tries to murder her with fruit.

The Amazing Spider-Man director Marc Webb will be behind the camera for the movie, with West Side Story star Rachel Zegler playing Snow White herself. Apparently the search for a Snow White was extensive, but Disney always had Gadot in mind for the part of the queen. Gadot can certainly look imposing, although I’ll be curious to see if she can pull of the malevolence the Queen is known for. I’m used to seeing Gadot as the noble-hearted Wonder Woman so I’m having trouble imagining it.

Snow White remake release date

Lucille La Verne voiced the Evil Queen in the original animated movie, Charlize Theron played her in Universal’s Snow White and the Huntsman, and Lana Parrilla played her on ABC’s Once Upon a Time. So the role has some history, as it should; this is the first proper Disney villain we’re talking about, so Disney has a vested interest in getting it right. I’m open to being impressed.

There’s no release date for the Snow White remake set as of yet, but production is supposed to start next year.

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h/t The A.V. Club