EXCLUSIVE Snow White and the Seven… Politically-Correct Companions?

Heigh-ho, heigh-ho it’s off to the job centre they go — for the seven dwarves have been replaced by ‘magical creatures’ for Disney’s live-action remake of Snow White.

Rachel Zegler, who plays the fictional princess, has been pictured for the first time with her new companions who appear to be a mix of genders, ethnicities and heights.

The actress, wearing Snow White’s famous yellow and blue dress and a red cape, is trailed by the group who are dressed in brightly coloured clothes and carrying work tools.

They were spotted shooting scenes in Bedfordshire on Thursday in pictures obtained exclusively by MailOnline.

Disney announced that ‘magical creatures’ would replace the seven dwarves to ‘avoid reinforcing stereotypes’ after Game of Thrones actor Peter Dinklage criticised the ‘f****** backwards story’ last year.

‘I was a little taken aback when they [Disney] were very proud to cast a Latina actress as Snow White, but you’re still telling the story of Snow White And The Seven Dwarfs,’ he told Mark Maron’s WTF podcast.

‘It makes no sense to me. You’re progressive in one way and you’re still making that f***ing backwards story about seven dwarfs living in a cave together, what the f*** are you doing, man? Have I done nothing to advance the cause from my soapbox? I guess I’m not loud enough.’

Disney bosses also came under fire for giving the titular role Zegler, despite the story being about a traditionally ‘fair’ German princess. The film – which also stars Wonder Woman star Gal Gadot as the evil stepmother – is set to be released in March 2024. 

In exclusive pictures Snow White’s Seven… Companions can be seen for the first time as bosses snub the original text amid criticism of the out-of-date portrayal. The Disney production is live action and will not have seven dwarves playing the roles

Rachel Zegler was controversially cast as Snow White – but the 22-year-old stuns in the iconic character’s vibrant dress 

The merry band follow behind Snow White as they make their way across the idyllic Berkshire scene – and she serenely strides ahead

The Seven… Friends walk behind Andrew Burnap – who plays ‘Jonathan’ as the movie ditches the character of the Prince

The line follow through the flowered fields in a rag-tag assortment of wacky clothing – with no apparant theme of colours, style or period to tie the group together

New direction: Disney says it is taking a ‘different approach’ with the characters originally referred to as the ‘seven dwarfs’ in its remake of its classic film Snow White in an effort to ‘avoid reinforcing stereotypes’

Co-written by Barbie’s Greta Gerwig, the upcoming adaptation will not feature a Prince Charming and will instead focus on a ‘stronger’ Snow White who dreams of becoming a leader.

Ms Zegler previously addressed reports that the film was trying to be politically correct, claiming that the story needed ‘refreshing’.

She said: ‘People are making these jokes about ours being the PC Snow White… yeah, it is – because it needed that.

‘Our version is a refreshing story about a young woman who has a function beyond Someday My Prince Will Come.’

The Colombian-American actress faced scrutiny by some critics after she was cast as Snow White, who was described as having ‘skin as white as snow’.

In a since deleted tweet, she wrote: ‘Yes I am Snow White; no, I am not bleaching my skin for the role.’

Disney’s 1937 animated film follows Snow White as she befriends the seven dwarves while hiding from her wicked step-mother who later poisons her with an apple before Prince Charming wakes her from her slumber with a kiss.

It was loosely based on the 1812 fairy tale of the same name by the Brothers Grimm.

At the front of the group appears to be the only actor with dwarfism, wearing a check consisting of a violent blue, red and yellow combination. The actor – who has long brown hair and a beard – is further dressed in scarlet trousers and a velvet green jacket, whose fabric is held together by red string.

Behind him is a man holding a large walking pole – and whose clothing seems less fitting for a strenuous country walk.

With a bright orange shirt featuring a swirling pattern, a wide collar spills over a striped green jacket and tall boots.

Following, a man with long blonde curls tucked into a smart blue beanie wears a more modern get up – including a brown and blue suit jacket and a loose blue top.

In sharp contrast, the man behind him – who has long brown curly hair and a beard – appears to be in a medieval get-up. With a leather hat and golden jacket, he also appears to be carrying a large coil of rope.

Two more follow beind – one in bright pattens of blues and clashing red, who also appears to be holding a club, while the other is equally eccentric in an array of blue and pink.

At the back is a man who towers above the rest, in a scarlet jacket and multi-coloured hoodie.

At one point the appear to stop and cheer, while in another moment they stand on the edge of the wood apparently in the midst of a heated discussion.

At one point the group appear to cheer Snow White as she stands with her back to us – while the Seven… Pals punch the air and cheer in response

The re-thinking of the Seven… People comes amid the corporation taking a new look at their old stories – with classics including Peter Pan and Aristocats getting content warnings for outdated content

Rachel Zegler looks serene and majestic in the classic red, blue and yellow of the Disney Princess – but her casting was blasted as the original German character was famously ‘fair’

Zegler as Snow White looks warily ahead, as her stern-faced Seven… Heads meander down the field

Behind them are a huge camera crew – tracking their movements across the idyllic English countryside. They follow behind lead male actor Andrew Burnap – who plays ‘Jonathan’ as the movie ditches the character of the Prince.

And in front of them all – wandering serenely on her own – is Zegler in the iconic blue, yellow and red dress of the Disney heroine.

Speaking about the role, the star said:  ‘She’s not going to be saved by a kiss and she’s not dreaming of a Prince, because there isn’t one. 

‘She is dreaming of becoming the leader her late father told her she could be, if she is fearless, honest and true.’

And in front of them all – wandering serenely on her own – is Zegler in the iconic blue, yellow and red dress of the Disney heroine. 

After hearing of the adaptation, Game of Thrones star Dinklage, 52, blasted the studio for telling this ‘backwards’ story.

‘Literally no offence to anyone, but I was a little taken aback when they were very proud to cast a Latina actress as Snow White. You’re still telling the story of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs,’ Dinklage told the WTF podcast. 

‘Take a step back and look at what you’re doing there. It makes no sense to me.

At one point the group appear to have a spirited discussion, as the wackily-clad Seven… Associates contend at the edge of a wood

Andrew Burnap, 32, who plays a character known as ‘Jonathan’ on iMDB, stands majestically at the top of the field 

Of the band only one appears to have dwarfism – while the other six seem to all be of average height

One man is wackily dressed and holding a large walking pole – while another, in a blue and brown jacket and holding a walking stick, appears to be in more modern attire

In sharp contrast, the man behind him – who has long brown curly hair and a beard – appears to be in a medieval get-up. Another wears bright patterns of blues and clashing red, and appears to be holding a club

One actor is on an eccentric in an array of blue and pink, while another is in a scarlet jacket and multi-coloured hoodie

‘You’re progressive in one way and you’re still making that f***ing backwards story about seven dwarfs living in a cave together, what the f*** are you doing man?’

Backlash: The movie faced backlash from Peter Dinklage

His concerns were shared by some charities, including the Restricted Growth Association in the UK.

‘I very much stand with Peter Dinklage on the disappointment and irritation towards Disney for the remake of Snow White,’ Rhonda Cutmore, a member of the association, told The Telegraph. ‘

As a 46-year-old woman with restricted growth, this story has always had a negative impact on me. Not just the physical characteristics, but the labelling of ‘Dopey’ and ‘Bashful’, were not helpful in the playground.

She added: ‘People with restricted growth are in majority born to average height parents – they never live in gingerbread houses, have little bear beds nor live in homogeneous groups together.’

Dwarfism writer Steph Robson said she hoped film producers make an effort to avoid stereotypes in its retelling of the classic movie.

‘It is my hope that the latest live action remake, and Disney, will, at the very least go some way to redress the decades of the one-dimensional stereotypes that our disability continues to experience, especially within arts and cultural settings,’ she told the outlet.

The story has also been criticized as being ableist for portraying the dwarfs with lesser intelligence and Snow White seeing them as children.

Daubed in bright reds, blues and greens, the group of seven appeared to be in good spirits on set in Berkshire

Behind them are a huge camera crew – tracking their movements across the idyllic English countryside

The team of techies are pushing ahead as they get ready to show the film in March next year – and they have even enlisted the help of a drone

The team look relaxed as they take a break and are given some direction as they enjoy some coffee in the shade

The original animated film was based on an 1812 fairy tale from The Brothers Grimm, though the dwarfs in that story lived in a cottage, not a cave.

The story has also been criticized as being ableist for portraying the dwarfs with lesser intelligence and Snow White seeing them as children.

Disney has said it’s ‘taking a different approach’ with Snow White’s seven companions, after Game Of Thrones actor Peter slammed the studio for remaking the ‘backward’ film that reinforces stereotypes.

In a statement last year, the company said it had been consulting with members of the dwarfism community throughout the early stages of production.

‘To avoid reinforcing stereotypes from the original animated film, we are taking a different approach with these seven characters and have been consulting with members of the dwarfism community,’ a spokesperson said.

‘We look forward to sharing more as the film heads into production after a lengthy development period.’

In December last year, sources close to the production said Snow White’s seven ‘dwarfs’ were not going to be fully computer generated, and wouldn’t be dwarfs at all.

Instead, she would be befriended by magical, forest-dwelling creatures. 

At one point the appear to stop and cheer, while in another moment they stand on the edge of the wood apparently in the midst of a heated discussion 

A source connected with the production explained that they will be rather like the trolls in Frozen, or JRR Tolkein’s hobbits. They will have two legs, two arms and a face with eyes, nose and a mouth . . . but not be actually human.

They said: ‘We finished filming in the summer but it takes months to sort out the CG for the dwarfs, who aren’t dwarfs. Also, it always takes ages for all the merchandise to be made, so the film’s not out for a long time still.’

Zegler also brushed off scandals after her casting recieved backlash because of her Columbian-American heritage.

In the classic fairytale, Snow White is described as the ‘fairest one of all’ with ‘skin as white as snow.’ 

Zegler took to social media in June to celebrate the news and fire back at a handful of haters who questioned her casting as…