According to Deadline, Wonder Woman star Gal Gadot has officially signed on to star opposite West Side Story‘s Rachel Zegler in Walt Disney Studios’ upcoming live-action Snow White film. Gadot is set to portray the iconic villainous role of the Evil Queen, the titular princess’ narcissistic witch stepmother who was previously voiced by late veteran voice actress Lucille La Verne in the 1937 animated film. The studio is currently aiming to start its production in 2022.
The Israeli actress will next be seen in several high-profile projects including Netflix’s Red Notice starring alongside Dwayne Johnson and Ryan Reynolds, which will debut tomorrow in theaters, 20th Century Studios’ whodunnit pic Death on the Nile, and Warner Bros. Pictures’ already confirmed third installment to the Wonder Woman franchise.
RELATED: Tony Hale, Hannah Waddingham, More Join Hocus Pocus 2
Disney’s upcoming live-action adaptation of Snow White will be based on the studio’s first animated classic Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs that debuted over 80 years ago and started Disney’s success with animated films. It was also inspired by the 1812 German fairy tale written by the Brothers Grimm.
The animated movie followed the titular princess as she gets exiled into the dangerous forest by her evil stepmother. Fortunately, she was rescued by seven dwarf miners who make her part of their household. However, due to the evil stepmother’s desire to be the fairest of them all, she tricks Snow White into eating a poison apple that would curse the princess into an endless sleep. In order for the curse to be broken, she must receive a true love’s kiss. The movie was nominated for a Best Music Oscar, with Walt Disney winning an honorary award for the film.
RELATED: Emma Stone to Return for Disney’s Cruella Sequel
Snow White has been in development since 2016, with La La Land and The Greatest Showman duo Benj Pasek and Justin Paul attached to write new songs for the adaptation. Set to be directed and produced by Marc Webb from a screenplay by Erin Cressida Wilson, the project is expected to expand the story and music from the original. Production is set to begin in 2022.
This project is part of Disney’s growing list of upcoming live-action projects including The Little Mermaid, Hercules, Pinocchio, and Peter Pan & Wendy along with sequels to The Lion King, Aladdin, and the recently released Cruella.
