In Snow White
and the Huntsman, a breathtaking new vision of the legendary tale
begins. Kristen Stewart
plays the only person in the land fairer than the evil Queen Ravenna (Charlize Theron).The casting of
Ravenna’s nemesis was slightly trickier than finding her pursuer. The filmmakers were searching for an actress
who could capture both sides of the archetypal character: the innocence,
naiveté and tenderness that Snow White demonstrates in the first half of our
story, and the tough, physical warrior princess that she becomes in the second
half. They discovered a number of
younger actresses who could play the first half of the movie brilliantly but
had trouble convincing the team that they could carry off the tougher persona. Likewise, when older actresses auditioned,
they could well portray the battle-hardened soldier but were unconvincing as
the recessive captive that the film’s early scenes demanded.
Kristen Stewart
After a worldwide search for a
performer who could fulfill the demands of this expansive role, Kristen
Stewart, known for her role as Bella Swan in the blockbuster Twilight saga, was cast in the much
coveted role of Snow White. Comments director Rupert Sanders of the team’s choice: “Kristen is such an incredible talent.
She has obviously done amazing work in her projects to date, but this
opens her up to an even larger audience and gives her a classical role. She’s previously been in films that are of
our era and not done a film quite like this.
This is her chance to rise, and to shine as well. The two track well together.”
Producer
Joe Roth gives a bit of background
on her casting: “We all felt convinced that Snow White was not shy but
somebody who was an aggressive, assertive, positive Joan of Arc-like
figure. We originally were looking for an unknown to play the character,
in the same way we did on Alice in Wonderland, where we found Mia
Wasikowska. However, Rupert and I decided to fly down to New Orleans,
where the last Twilight film was being shot, and sat and talked to
Kristen. We felt great about casting Kristen. She really did her homework for this
role. She spent four months riding
horses and four months with an English accent.”
Stewart
introduces us to a young woman we thought we had long known: “We’re not trying to take Snow White and
turn her on her side; we stay very true to who she is in the story. She represents a reminder of just how great people can be to one another.” Agreeing with Theron, the actress appreciated
the material’s thoughtful take on beauty and power. Stewart says: “It’s been interesting to play
a young girl who is completely unaware of any vanity. She just has none. In almost every other role you play, you’re
at least aware of yourself and might have to play a girl dealing with vanity as
she grows into a woman. The fact that
Snow White has absolutely none of that, and Ravenna has the ultimate opposite,
says something very nice about what people find beautiful in life.”
The performer
appreciated the writers’ take on Snow White, a character initially trapped in a
forest that draws its strength from any weakness. Stewart reflects: “I do admire strong
characters, but this wasn’t strong for the sake of strong. It was so feminine and so human, and I love
playing a character who is someone that you’re going to root for and throw your
drink on the ground and stand up and go, ‘Yeah!’”
This part
represented Stewart’s first time as an action heroine, albeit a conflicted
one. She says: “Snow White is initially
this disconnected martyr. After she
escapes, she’s becoming this human being again, but she’s not necessarily
fighting for herself. It’s like there’s
a hole that can’t be filled. Most action
characters are so self-righteous and vindictive, but she won’t do that. I’ve never seen that before, and I think it’s
awesome.”
Charlize Theron
Stewart knew there
would be much stunt work involved in a production of this size and scope, and
she was more than ready for the challenge.
For example, during Snow White’s escape scene, the actress was required
to be literally up to her shoulders in an enclosed sewer set with dozens of
live rats. As well, she had to jump off
of a two-story building into a pool on a chilly London day to make this daring
escape.
“Snow White
and the Huntsman” is released and distributed by
United
International Pictures
through Solar Entertainment Corp.
Showing on
June 1, 2012 nationwide.
