Ian McShane has been cast as the first dwarf in Universal Picture’s upcoming ‘Snow White and the Huntsman,’ according to The Hollywood Reporter. The ‘Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides’ actor will appear as Caesar, the leader of the dwarfs. The studio is currently casting the rest of the dwarfs.

Kristen Stewart will portray a princess who escapes her evil stepmother, to be played by Charlize Theron, in Universal’s adaptation of the Snow White fairy tale. The princess is aided by a huntsman, to be portrayed by Chris Hesworth, who wants to have her killed at first, but eventually decides to train her instead to survive and fight back.

‘Snow White and the Huntsman,’ which will be directed by Rupert Sanders, is scheduled to begin filming in August 2011, and is set to be released on June 1, 2012. The movie has rivalry from Relativity Media’s own Snow White project, so there is serious competition to fill the rest of the roles.

Written by: Karen Benardello