Millie Bobby Brown is no stranger to battling monsters and evil on the silver screen. The burgeoning star, who has been pushing herself forward to leave a mark in the fantasy horror genre, is gearing up for another release in the same vein with Netflix’s Damsel. Despite the genre’s familiarity, Brown will immerse herself in a role that diverges from her previous on-screen ventures. However, Brown will not be the only one stepping into the bold initiative. 

Rachel Zegler will be bringing the same wave to another streaming platform, Disney, with her upcoming movie Snow White. Both actresses would tackle stereotypes and clichés prevalent in fairy tale fantasies, making them develop into a contemporary narrative. And here is how.

Millie Bobby Brown and Rachel Zegler will break away from the conventional tales 

Traditional fantasy narratives often featured a recurring theme where princesses relied on male protagonists or their “Prince” for salvation. In contrast to the typical depiction of princesses as “victims” in fantasy narratives, the upcoming movies of Millie Bobby Brown and Rachel Zegler will be steering the tales toward a more progressive and feminist direction. It will present the characters as self-reliant who will rely on their own strength and power to fight the adversities. 

A few other films, including Cursed and Pinocchio, have explored this trope of breaking away from the traditional tales before. And with Damsel and Snow White around the corner, this trope stands to gain even greater recognition in the coming days. Director Juan Carlos Fresnadillo, in an interview with Empire, added how Damsel would turn all the traditional tropes “upside-down”. 

While Damsel’s director addressed how the movie will break away from the conventional notions, even Rachel Zegler spoke about the revolutionizing trope in a 2022 interview, touching off a storm of controversy online.

Why is the “woke” fairy tale trope facing backlash?

Rachel Zegler gave an interview to Variety where she revealed how her upcoming fairy tale rendition would portray the princess in a different light. This did not sit well with a section of fans who deemed it preachy and criticized the makers for dismantling traditions through the lens of “woke” culture. However, the director of Damsel deemed this trope to be a vital part of realism crucial for modern audiences.

While talking to Tudum, Fresnadillo shared how he put efforts into infusing a sense of realism in Damsel, despite it being a fantasy-inspired tale. He urged the audience to keep an “open mind” while approaching the movie. Also, he stressed, “It’s a fantasy, but grounded in reality”. That said, it will be a treat to watch Brown and Zegler navigating and gracefully portraying their challenging roles on screen and reshaping conventional narratives, without alienating those who love the original film. 

What do you think about Damsel and Snow White breaking away from the traditional fairy-tale tropes? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!