Disney in talks with director Gracey for "Snow White"

LOS ANGELES (TheWrap.com) - Hollywood's dueling "Snow White" projects continue, with Disney in negotiations with a director for its live-action "Order of the Seven," TheWrap has confirmed.

The studio is in talks with Michael Gracey for its unusual take on the "Snow White" tale that it made famous with its 1937 landmark cartoon.

The new movie, originally titled "Snow and the Seven," sets the story China, and "the seven" aren't dwarfs but members of an order of warriors who meet up with an Englishwoman and protect her from an ancient evil.

Gracey, who was the youngest animator at "Happy Feet" animation house Animal Logic, made Evian's "Roller Babies" commercial, which holds a Guinness World Record for most watched online ad.

He's also a music video director who is developing a Broadway play about speed dating.

Francis Lawrence, who directed this year's "Water for Elephants" and the 2007 "I Am Legend," was originally attached to direct.

"The Order of the Seven" is scheduled for a 2013 release.

Two other "Snow White" projects are now under way -- one from Relativity and one from Universal. Like the Disney project, Universal's is being directed by a guy who cut his teeth on commercials -- Rupert Sanders.

Relativity is making a fairly dark "Snow White" movie starring Lily Collins, Sean Bean, Julia Roberts and Armie Hammer, directed by Tarsem Singh. That one comes out in March.

Universal is making "Snow White and the Huntsman," starring Kristen Stewart, Chris Hemsworth, Charlize Theron and Sam Claflin. That movie is scheduled to be released June 1, 2012.