Martin Klebba, who provides the voice of Grumpy in Disney’s live-action Snow White, has addressed the decision to alter the film’s premiere plans. The event, set to take place at El Capitan Theatre, will not include journalists on the red carpet, a shift Klebba attributes to concerns over public reaction.
“It really isn’t going to be a red carpet,” Klebba said. “It’s basically going to be a pre-party, watch the movie, and that’s it. Because of all this controversy, they’re afraid of the blowback from different people in society.”
The film, starring Rachel Zegler as Snow White and Gal Gadot as the Evil Queen, has been the subject of ongoing debate. Zegler, known for her outspoken views, previously criticized aspects of the original 1937 animated classic, calling some of its story elements outdated. The actress has also faced backlash for past social media comments, including criticism of Donald Trump’s election victory, for which she later apologized.
Klebba, who has worked on previous Snow White adaptations, including Mirror Mirror (2012), also addressed discussions around the film’s approach to the seven dwarfs. Actor Peter Dinklage previously criticized the concept of revisiting a story about seven dwarfs, calling it outdated. Klebba stated that the film had always intended to use motion-capture animation for the seven miners, with him serving as both a voice actor and an advisor for the characters.
“I don’t usually get into the political stuff, but I [felt], ‘Dwarfs aren’t going to go away just because you can’t imagine that they’re there,’” Klebba said. “We’re still going to be walking around. So I didn’t get the whole stuff about not doing the dwarfs.”
Klebba also noted that using CGI allowed the filmmakers to maintain consistency in the characters’ designs. “If you guys go this route, it just makes sense to be able to draw them the way you want,” he said. “This way, they’re all the same size. And to find seven little people actors to pull it off, that’s not an easy thing either.”
The film’s marketing strategy has shifted in response to various controversies. The European premiere was held at Segovia Castle in Spain, a remote location, with a limited guest list and no press access. The Los Angeles premiere will include a red carpet event but without media interviews. Promotional efforts have also been split, with Zegler and Gadot appearing at separate events in different countries.
Klebba remains proud of the project and is eager for audiences to see it. “I wish they would’ve kept [the dwarfs in the title],” he said. “I wouldn’t have gone away from that. But the marketing people know what they’re doing.”
