Well, technically Snow White will be knocking around with ‘eight’ dwarves in Universal’s dark re-imagining of the classic fairytale, but that would have just confused the headline.

SNOW WHITE AND THE HUNTSMAN already stars the mighty THOR himself, Chris Hemsworth, as The Huntsman of the title, tasked by the wicked queen (Charlize Theron) to kill Kristen Stewart’s Snow White. Sam Claflin (last seen getting it on with a fish in PIRATES OF THE CARRIBBEAN 4) plays her Prince charming, who will no doubt have a fight on his hands when the inevitable love triangle with the Huntsman kicks off (this is TWILIGHT’s Bella Swan after all).

So who’re the little fellas portraying Dopey, Sleepy, Grumpy, (and so on) then? Well, 1) gone are the cutesy names of old, these guys have monikers beyond their most obvious character traits now, and 2) there’s not a genuine little fella among them. Bob Hoskins aside.

Joining Hoskins as Constantine (told you they’re shaking this up), are Eddie Izzard as Tiberius, Toby Jones (THE MIST) as Claudious, and the ubiquitous Ian McShane (PIRATES OF THE CARRIBBEAN 4) as Caesar. Each will be digitally fun-sized ala the methods employed by Peter Jackson in those magic ring films.

The remaining three are yet to be cast, but Eddie Marsden (SHERLOCK HOLMES) and Stephen Graham (PIRATES OF THE CARRI– hang on, is this a reunion or something?!) are currently in talks.

It’s an impressive cast, but with a whole slew of fairytale adaptations heading to our screens (cinema and TV) over the next year – adding to the fact the general ambivalence to this year’s RED RIDING HOOD, BEASTLY etc – will it have what it takes to gather an audience? Hiii hooooo-pe so.

SNOW WHITE AND THE HUNTSMAN is scheduled for a summer 2012 release.

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