By Scarlett Rose Binder - News Editor on March 14, 2025
Graphic by Audrey Garcia
Mirror, mirror on the wall, where has Hollywood’s originality gone?
Each year, hundreds of films hit the big screen, but many of these stories are anything but new. Instead, movie lovers are bombarded by prequels, sequels and regurgitated plotlines from the past.
When done correctly, these adaptations can have their place. “Wicked,” for instance, was a spellbinding cinematic reimagining of a decades-old tale. Unfortunately, such successes are an exception, not the rule.
Most remakes in recent years are like reheated leftovers: tolerable, perhaps, but never as satisfying as the original meal. Then again, some people love leftovers, and if you’re one of them, you’re in luck. Disney, in particular, has made them a signature dish.
With 17 remakes or prequels and sequels to remakes in just a decade, and more on the way, the beloved studio has become one of the biggest culprits in Hollywood’s originality crisis.
“Snow White,” set to hit theaters on March 21, is the latest in Disney’s long line of live-action adaptations. Following in the footsteps of films like “Mulan” (2020) and “The Little Mermaid” (2023), “Snow White” is already receiving criticism, and this may be the most controversial remake of all.
Much of the backlash surrounds the casting of Latina actress Rachel Zegler in the titular role, but the real problem is the replacement of the original seven dwarfs with “magical creatures.” If remaking a famous film isn’t inherently unoriginal enough, these creatures are an additional affront to originality, as they will be completely computer generated.
Disney defends this choice as an effort to avoid reinforcing stereotypes. But if you consider “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs” to be a tale that reinforces stereotypes, why recreate it at all? Why not tell a new story?
One particularly pointed critique comes from David Hand, whose father was one of the directors of the original animated classic.
“There’s no respect for what Disney did and what my dad did … I think Walt and he would be turning in their graves,” Hand said in an interview with The Telegraph.
At 91, Hand may have a natural bias toward the original and a more traditional view on reinterpreting classic films, but he raises a valid point: if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.
This is advice Hollywood as a whole should hear. While Disney may be one of the most prolific offenders, it’s unclear whether the studio is setting the trend or following it. The film industry at large is saturated with recycled ideas.
For proof, look no further than this year’s list of upcoming releases: “How to Train Your Dragon,” “The Fantastic Four: First Steps,” “Superman,” “Zootopia 2,” “Jurassic World Rebirth,” “Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy,” “A Minecraft Movie,” “Until Dawn,” “Another Simple Favor,” a live action “Lilo and Stitch,” “Karate Kid: Legends,” “Mission Impossible – The Final Reckoning” and “Wicked: For Good” are just a few. The list is too long already, and it goes on.
Am I looking forward to some of these? Absolutely.
Are any of them completely new concepts? Not at all.
And that’s a bigger issue than just movies. Social media, mass consumption and increasing reliance on artificial intelligence pose a growing threat to all forms of original thought. Yet creativity and innovation are crucial for progress, storytelling and human connection.
At the end of the day, the one thing no one can take from you is your mind. Don’t diminish its value.
Snow White and the seven affronts to originality
Mirror, mirror on the wall, where has Hollywood’s originality gone?
Each year, hundreds of films hit the big screen, but many of these stories are anything but new. Instead, movie lovers are bombarded by prequels, sequels and regurgitated plotlines from the past.
When done correctly, these adaptations can have their place. “Wicked,” for instance, was a spellbinding cinematic reimagining of a decades-old tale. Unfortunately, such successes are an exception, not the rule.
Most remakes in recent years are like reheated leftovers: tolerable, perhaps, but never as satisfying as the original meal. Then again, some people love leftovers, and if you’re one of them, you’re in luck. Disney, in particular, has made them a signature dish.
With 17 remakes or prequels and sequels to remakes in just a decade, and more on the way, the beloved studio has become one of the biggest culprits in Hollywood’s originality crisis.
“Snow White,” set to hit theaters on March 21, is the latest in Disney’s long line of live-action adaptations. Following in the footsteps of films like “Mulan” (2020) and “The Little Mermaid” (2023), “Snow White” is already receiving criticism, and this may be the most controversial remake of all.
Much of the backlash surrounds the casting of Latina actress Rachel Zegler in the titular role, but the real problem is the replacement of the original seven dwarfs with “magical creatures.” If remaking a famous film isn’t inherently unoriginal enough, these creatures are an additional affront to originality, as they will be completely computer generated.
Disney defends this choice as an effort to avoid reinforcing stereotypes. But if you consider “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs” to be a tale that reinforces stereotypes, why recreate it at all? Why not tell a new story?
One particularly pointed critique comes from David Hand, whose father was one of the directors of the original animated classic.
“There’s no respect for what Disney did and what my dad did … I think Walt and he would be turning in their graves,” Hand said in an interview with The Telegraph.
At 91, Hand may have a natural bias toward the original and a more traditional view on reinterpreting classic films, but he raises a valid point: if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.
This is advice Hollywood as a whole should hear. While Disney may be one of the most prolific offenders, it’s unclear whether the studio is setting the trend or following it. The film industry at large is saturated with recycled ideas.
For proof, look no further than this year’s list of upcoming releases: “How to Train Your Dragon,” “The Fantastic Four: First Steps,” “Superman,” “Zootopia 2,” “Jurassic World Rebirth,” “Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy,” “A Minecraft Movie,” “Until Dawn,” “Another Simple Favor,” a live action “Lilo and Stitch,” “Karate Kid: Legends,” “Mission Impossible – The Final Reckoning” and “Wicked: For Good” are just a few. The list is too long already, and it goes on.
Am I looking forward to some of these? Absolutely.
Are any of them completely new concepts? Not at all.
And that’s a bigger issue than just movies. Social media, mass consumption and increasing reliance on artificial intelligence pose a growing threat to all forms of original thought. Yet creativity and innovation are crucial for progress, storytelling and human connection.
At the end of the day, the one thing no one can take from you is your mind. Don’t diminish its value.