The planned remake of Snow White follows a string of successful live-action adaptations of animated classics produced by Disney, including Aladdin and Beauty and the Beast.
But Dinklage’s comments have been backed by charities, as the revival of a story perpetuating “the dwarf trope” has been criticised by experts.
Rhonda Cutmore, of the Restricted Growth Association, said: “I very much stand with Peter Dinklage on the disappointment and irritation towards Disney for the remake of Snow White.
“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.
“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.
“Poor portrayals affect people’s lives everyday, having ‘hi ho’ or ‘do you live upon a toadstool?’ heckled at you by the ignorant. I feel this obsession to find people with restricted growth funny has come about from people’s first experience of ‘The Dwarf trope’.”
Ms Cutmore added that seeing a person with restricted growth in a relationship with a Disney princess would be “more realistic than living in the woods”.
Steph Robson, who writes on dwarfism under the name Hello Little Lady, said: “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.”
Singer and actress Ms Zegler chosen as the new Snow White, and her casting comes after she landed the role as Maria in Steven Spielberg’s remake of West Side Story.
Production on the live-action Snow White will begin later this year. No details have been given on how Disney will manage the portrayal of dwarfs on screen, although Mr Dinklage said he would support a “progressive spin”.
Disney has been contacted for comment.
