Actor Sam Claflin has had a storied career in the industry, but his portrayal of William, aka Prince Charming, in the Disney's next live-action remake is 2024's Snow White, starring Rachel Zegler as the titular princess, Gal Gadot as the Evil Queen, and Andrew Burnap as new character Jonathan. However, a live-action retelling of the classic Grimm Brothers fairy tale with a special twist, spearheaded by Universal, was released back in 2012, featuring Sam Claflin as Snow White's one true love.
Snow White and the Huntsman sees Claflin starring opposite Kristen Stewart's Snow White, in which he spends most of the film trying to find her. While the movie received mixed reviews (via Rotten Tomatoes), it still spawned a sequel, The Huntsman: Winter's War, which served as both a continuation and prequel to the original tale. Claflin took up the mantle of William again, though this time his role as the new king was severely diminished in favor of Chris Hemsworth's titular huntsman, Eric. Regardless, Claflin was nominated for a Teen's Choice Award for playing William, and the role proved that the actor was a diamond in the rough, more than capable of playing a prince.
Sam Claflin Deserves A Better Prince Role Than The Huntsman Movies
As proven by their poor critical reception, The Huntsman movies are sub-par, but Claflin shines as a protagonist. The fact that his performance is notable in a film series that's arguably poorly written proves that he has the talent to take on the role of a live-action Disney Prince. Claflin's talent lies in his charm, and the actor easily steals just about every scene he's in. Despite William's reduced visibility in Winter's War, Claflin manages to keep his head above water and is somehow able to add even more to the character. He fights as valiantly as any Disney Prince in the war against Ravenna's army and shows immense care and comion as a husband to Snow White.
If Claflin's role in The Huntsman series isn't enough proof, the undeniable charm he displays as the District 4 competitor Finnick Odair in The Hunger Games: Catching Fire should also be taken into consideration. Claflin easily secured his spot as the most charismatic male lead in the film, and further proved his talents as an actor with the arc that Finnick experienced before his death in Mockingjay – Part 2. His character resonated with audiences in such a way that Finnick's death was arguably one of the saddest in the Hunger Games series, which says a lot considering how often death occurs in the story.
Which Disney Prince Sam Claflin Could Play In A Live-Action Movie
While the list of animated classics that Disney has yet to reboot in live-action form is dwindling, there are a few princes left that Sam Claflin could play. Though, Claflin is 37 years old, so Disney may be looking for younger actors. One of the most obvious choices is Flynn Rider in Tangled, should Disney ever choose to remake Rapunzel's tale. First, Claflin looks the part of Ryder, and he would bring his comedic talents to the role which is wholly necessary for the character. Claflin would do well as the witty and charismatic thief-turned-Prince, and it's easy to imagine the actor pulling faces to create the perfect "smolder."
Other films that Disney hasn't made a live-action reboot of include Frozen, and while Kristoff may be better off handled under a different actor, Claflin would excel as the villainous Prince Hans. Though not technically a prince, Disney's Atlantis: The Lost Empire as a live-action remake could see Claflin cast as Milo. It would be a different role than he normally plays, but he's talented enough to branch out. With live-action remakes like The Little Mermaid giving both prince and princess more agency, these reboots need to cast talented leads, and Sam Claflin has proved through Snow White and the Huntsman and beyond that he's more than capable.
