Photo: Courtesy of UniversalSnow White and the Huntsman was a box office smash in 2012, and while it's hard to determine whether the film's bonafide hit status was the result of an action film finally having a female hero or Twilight devotees rushing to theaters to see Bella Swan kick some medieval butt, news of a sequel quickly began to circulate. Unfortunately, the film was also plagued by a tabloid scandal involving star Kristen Stewart and director Rupert Sanders. The latter fact might explain why it took two years for news of the sequel officially being a go to surface — and also why Kristen Stewart won't actually be appearing in it.
According to The Wrap, Walking Dead creator Frank Darabont is being courted as SWATH 2's director, but the second film will focus more on Chris Hemsworth's Huntsman character and Charlize Theron's evil queen Ravenna. The script has yet to be finalized, but if Snow White appears at all, it would reportedly be for a very small cameo.
Since franchises rely heavily on brand recognition for box office performance, it's unclear if the title of the sequel will be changed to reflect Snow White's absence. To be honest, we're a bit disappointed that one of the only recent action movies with a female protagonist will be reverting to a male one for part two (even if it is Chris Hemsworth). Here's hoping Darabont and the creative team find a way to keep the first film's feminist spirit alive, despite being down one major female. (The Wrap)