‘Snow White’ actor ‘disappointed in the world’ after Disney scales back premiere
Feeling grumpy.
“Snow White” actor Martin Klebba, who voices the character Grumpy in the live-action remake of the 1937 classic, said he’s “disappointed” that the movie’s upcoming premiere has been scaled back by Disney. But he doesn’t blame the company.
The decision, reported by Variety Tuesday, was reportedly made due to the controversies surrounding its stars — Rachel Zegler and Gal Gadot — as well as its treatment of the “seven dwarves,” including the use of CGI to create the characters rather than live actors.
“I was a little disappointed,” Klebba told The Post. “I’m not disappointed in Disney. I’m disappointed in the world.”
He explained, “We’ve come to this place in society where people work really hard on this movie, where Marc [Webb], the director, is probably four years into putting this together, [along with] the producers and Disney,?and just because a couple of people have views that not everybody feels the same way, now we’re having to alter the fun part of making a movie, which is premieres.
“So I’m a little bummed, but I understand it as well,” Klebba said. “Disney is one of the greatest production companies of all time, so you gotta be really careful in today’s world. So I see why they did it. I’m just still a little bummed because I was really looking forward to doing the red carpet.
“I just was really hoping to get together and walk the red carpet with these guys,” he added, referring to his castmates.
Klebba has also acted in two other Disney franchises with theme park tie-ins, the “Pirates of the Caribbean” movies and Eddie Murphy’s “The Haunted Mansion.”
“The world has come a long way. Whether you’re woke or not woke, God doesn’t make mistakes. Just be you and accepting,” he said. “Accept everybody for who they are and the world would be a great place.”
He also said that while film and TV have become more progressive over the years, he still finds it incredibly difficult to get cast.
“I wish Hollywood would be a little bit more open minded with people with disabilities,” he shared. “Whether they’re in a wheelchair or they’re shorter or whatever it might be, give everybody an opportunity.
“Step outside the box and be open to casting someone for their abilities, not just for what they look like, even though I’m better looking than Brad Pitt,” he added with a laugh.
Klebba’s agent, Raphael Berko at Media Artists Group, told The Post, “It’s unbelievable the prejudice against him. It’s terribly frustrating.”
Klebba also said that the movie is “amazing” and credits Webb with doing “a great job.”
The experience working on so many Disney films has been a surreal one for the actor.
“When I was 8 years old and I went to Disney World, I was like, ‘I’m gonna work for this company one day,’ ” he said. “Only I thought I was gonna be one of the characters that walked around the park with a big plastic head on, you know? Never did I think I was gonna become an actor and work on some of the biggest franchises of all time.
“I love Disney. They do what they gotta do,” he added. “It’s sad that society has gotten to the point where we have to do this nowadays.”
Disney has been criticized by many for being too “politically correct” and “woke,” with some taking issue with Zegler, a Latina actress, being cast as the lead.
Others have taken issue with the treatment of the “Seven Dwarfs,” including “Game of Thrones” star Peter Dinklage, and Zegler’s support for Palestine plus her derision of Donald Trump.
