Films & Entertainment
‘Wish’ Is a ‘Snow White’ Prequel – And It Makes the Film So Much Better

Is Wish (2023) actually a prequel for the most important Disney film of all time? One theory says “yes.”
Released in November 2023 to coincide with The Walt Disney Company’s 100-year celebration (AKA Disney100), Wish follows Asha (Ariana DeBose). After failing an interview to become an apprentice to King Magnifico (Chris Pine), she makes a heartfelt wish upon a star which ultimately helps her face off against the evil ruler of the Kingdom of Rosas.

The initial excitement around the film’s unique animation style soon dwindled. Burdened by lukewarm reviews – which targeted everything from this animation style to the uninspired storyline – Wish struggled at the box office, earning only around $255 million during its theatrical run.
One big issue was that the film struggled to honor Disney’s century-long legacy of innovation and animation. Considering the point of Disney100, this all felt a bit redundant, giving Wish the feel of a marketing exercise than an actual labor of love.
‘Wish’ Sets up a Classic Villain in a Whole New Way
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However, Ivan Mars has a theory that casts Wish in a whole new light. The TikToker – also known as the Movie Detective – suggests that Wish is actually a prequel to Disney’s first animated feature, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937).
At the film’s climax, Asha and the people of Rosas manage to take down King Magnifico, who has been using his magic to trap the kingdom and control its wishes. He is ultimately imprisoned in his staff. Before his entrapment, a flash of light flashes to none other than the Magic Mirror used by the Evil Queen in the 1937 film.
Mars suggests that Wish provides the backstory for that same character. Throughout Wish, various visual cues tie Magnifico to mirrors, notably during his villainous solo, “This Is The Thanks I Get?!”, where he opens with the line, “I can’t help it if mirrors love my face.”
Mars also highlights the Magic Mirror, which assists the Evil Queen in her quest to eliminate Snow White as “the fairest one of them all.” In the 1937 film, zodiac symbols surround the Magic Mirror. These same symbols are also seen throughout Magnifico’s palace in Wish.

Other viewers have supported this theory, suggesting connections to Maleficent’s staff and the resemblance of Magnifico’s castle to Cinderella’s. Some people even believe that Asha is supposed to be Cinderella’s Fairy Godmother.
Obviously, this is all just theoretical. If Disney had intended the film to be taken in this way, we have no doubts that it would’ve stressed the connection more in the wake of its disappointing release. Had it fully leaned into this idea, however, we argue that it could’ve gone a long way in redeeming Wish – and the Disney100 celebration as a whole.
What do you think of this Wish theory?