Saturday, June 28, 2014

Snow White’s sequel minus Snow White

byUniversal Pictures
by Melissa Scott, Writing Intern

The successful female-empowerment fantasy film, Snow White and the Huntsman, starring Kristen Stewart, is getting a sequel.

That’s really no surprise. Kristen couldn't help but burst with excitement, and enthusiasm, about the sequel, in an interview for Indiewire back in December 2012. “Oh, it's gonna be f***in’  amazing. No, I'm so excited about it, it's crazy,” she bubbled, when asked about a sequel. “So there will definitely be another Huntsman movie,” the Indiewire interviewer asked Kristen. “Oh my God, f*** yeah. Absolutely,” Kristen responded.

Because the interview was conducted 18 months ago, I’m not sure Kristen was aware of an odd twist. Surprisingly, and possibly ominously - apparently, the sequel will not feature Kristen, or any kind of Snow White character at all.

Reportedly, the previous director Rupert Sanders has been replaced by The Walking Dead creator Frank Darabont. Darabont’s departure from The Walking Dead between Seasons 1 and 2 became the subject of heated controversy. He hasn't directed a feature film since The Mist in 2007. His other feature film credits include The Shawshank Redemption, The Majestic, and The Green Mile.  Those movies are inspirational. But they don’t quite fit the fantasy-action element of this “Snow White.”

But replacing Rupert Sanders could be a wise move, after Kristen and Rupert’s little scandal surfaced late summer 2012. It caused quite a stir.  Kristen and Rupert were caught on camera committing romantic indiscretions (Kristen was in a relationship at the time with her Twilight co-star Robert Pattinson, and Sanders was married). But, because the problem was between the two of them, it follows to remove one of them from the picture. And preferably not the attention-drawing female fan-base star from Twilight.

Frank Darabont has decided to promote the film as more of a spin-off, instead of a direct sequel. The plot centers on Chris Hemsworth’s Huntsman character. If Kristen returns at all, apparently it will likely be a “handful of brief scenes,” or “limited to a cameo.”

Photo by Marianna Massey/Getty Images
I’m not sure this new spin will be the grand success possibly already brimming in Darabont’s mind. While I might not be the biggest Kristen Stewart fan myself, I admit that I paid to see each one of the five Twilight movies—more than once. Kristen is not known as a great actress, but nevertheless she is unforgettable as the weak and pitiful Bella Swan.

Naturally, when I heard she would star as the female lead of a dark and twisted take on Snow White, I needed to see the level of her expressionless monotone in that movie as well. Unsurprisingly, Snow White and the Huntsman grossed a decent $56 million on its opening weekend. The movie itself was dull and predictable, along with Kristen’s acting. So Kristen and her notoriety were undoubtedly the attraction.

I’m not discrediting Charlize Theron’s finesse as the embodiment of the typical “evil queen,”  or a deliciously grungy Chris Hemsworth fresh off The Avengers. For better or worse, the film does not make as much money without Kristen’s mainstream drawing power. Love or hate the Twilight star, she stirs interest. With Kristen out of the picture, I no longer care about Snow White and the Huntsman.

Centering instead on Chris Hemsworth and his macho-man, “me Tarzan you Jane,” demeanor is all good and well, but a fact remains: audiences for romantic-fairy tale-fantasy films are female. And while we females are interested in viewing the strong spear-throwing hands of Hemsworth, we enjoy female-centric plot lines. The Hunger Games, Divergent, Maleficent—all female-centered. We’re a condescending gender; there’s no getting around it. We claim our genres. Fairy tales, fantasy, and women-warrior themes all go hand-in-hand. This spin-off, and spin away from Kristen Stewart, especially in a film like Snow White, will soar – well under the radar.


1 comment:

  1. But, Kristen fans are not sad... She become pretty good reviews for Cole in Camp X-Ray, she have amazing Cannes buzz for Valentine (Cloud of Sils Maria, 100% movie for womens with gorgeous Juliette Binoche), she play Lydia in Still Alice (movie about Alzheimer), she is the badass female lead in action comedy with Jesse Eisenberg, she is Nia in Drake Doremus futuristic romance...she need Universal not, she and her fans need Snow White sequel not.

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