Warwick Davis is not pleased with how dwarf actors are being treated as of late in Hollywood and he thinks his voice should be heard.
Willow Ufgood (Warwick Davis) in Lucasfilm’s WILLOW exclusively on Disney+. ©2023 Lucasfilm Ltd. & TM. All Rights Reserved.
One of the most famous short actors in the history of Hollywood is striking a decidedly different tone than Peter Dinklage when it comes to how characters of a smaller stature are being cast. In an exclusive interview with That Park Place and Force of Light Entertainment, Warwick Davis had interesting commentary on the current situation with Disney and broader Hollywood.
Davis is a prolific actor having worked in multiple starring roles for major franchises like Star Wars, Harry Potter, Leprechaun, Willow and more. When Warwick speaks, Hollywood should listen.
(L-R): Jade (Erin Kellyman), Kit (Ruby Cruz), Willow Ufgood (Warwick Davis), Elora (Ellie Bamber), Boorman (Amar Chadha-Patel) and Airk (Dempsey Bryk) in Lucasfilm’s WILLOW exclusively on Disney+. ©.
READ: Rachel Zegler Reveals Disney’s Snow White Film Is Changing The Origin Of Snow White’s Name
Regarding The Walt Disney Company and its upcoming Rachel Zegler Snow White live action remake, Warwick Davis confirmed he had not been contacted by Disney regarding the movie at any time. This is shocking considering Mr. Davis is a true star and could have provided a large amount of gravitas to the importance of the tale. Who else could have ever played the role of Doc better than Warwick Davis? When asked why he thought Disney didn’t reach out to him at any point, he replied, “It seems they’re moving in a different direction.”
Later, during an ICCC question and answer panel in Nashville, Tennessee, Mr. Davis was asked again about the current situation with dwarf actors being excluded from roles by a Hollywood system that seems to favor CGI or digitally-altered, taller actors. After the question by investigative reporter, Jonas J. Campbell, Warwick Davis did not hold back.
He stated, “It’s interesting. Recently you’re seeing lots of, um, sort of short, fictionally, characters being played by normal-sized actors shrunk digitally. I mean, at first I sort of excused it thinking there’s not really the pool of talent to draw from, like with Lord of Rings for example. So I sort of excused that for happening. But, um… recently they’re doing it more and more. I think it looks scary almost — it’s not a good look.”
(L-R): Willow Ufgood (Warwick Davis) and Elora (Ellie Bamber) in Lucasfilm’s WILLOW exclusively on Disney+. ©.
It’s unclear if Davis was referring to the upcoming Snow White in regards to digitized characters. One might also remember how Willy Wonka’s oompa loompas have been generated recently. However, it remains to be seen how the dwarfs in Snow White are animated. If they’re motion captured by normal-sized actors, it could be another hit against dwarf and little person professionals.
Mr. Davis continued, “It is a shame because there’s a lot of really talented short actors in the world. But they’re not getting a chance to do what they do. Some of them have trained for years to do this and they’re just not getting a look in. You know, it would be wrong to cast someone as a disabled person in a wheelchair with an able-body I think, but they’re doing it all the time with short people. I’m not actively campaigning on this but it would be nice if my voice was heard on these issues.”
Warwick Davis wanting a voice in Hollywood on the issue could be interpreted as a counter-response to Peter Dinklage who has largely been seen as having done grave damage to short actors and their careers.
Many believe the Snow White film was altered in response to the criticisms he levied against Disney and the industry in an interview two years ago.
This isn’t the first time an actor has taken a position that appears at odds with Dinklage. Dylan Postl, who plays Hornswoggle in the wrestling industry, has been highly critical on major shows such as Piers Morgan and on the Tucker Carlson Show.
Ultimately, it would seem in everyone’s best interests if short actors are given the roles they’ve worked so hard to earn. When CGI is used to manufacture faux dwarfs rather than hiring real dwarfs for the role, the result is a synthetic ugliness both artistically and for the industry. The world has moved on from a darker time when differently-bodied persons were treated as exotic freaks to be paraded about for looking differently than locals were accustomed to seeing. In today’s society, this author hopes that whether you’re tremendously tall or spectacularly short, you’re still perceived as a dignified human being.
(L-R): Willow Ufgood (Warwick Davis) and Boorman (Amar Chadha-Patel) in Lucasfilm’s WILLOW exclusively on Disney+. ©2022 Lucasfilm Ltd. & TM. All Rights Reserved.
Playing shorter character shouldn’t be seen as a negative for shorter actors. A world in which we rejoice at the success of Shaquille O’Neil and Warwick Davis, despite their height disparities from the norm, is a world we might all want to live in.
NEXT: Report: Before Rachel Zegler, Disney Had Two Other Snow White Actors Of Color In Mind
