Disney’s live-action Snow White remake, starring Rachel Zegler, crashed at the box office, grossing just $169 million against a $270 million budget, prompting the studio to slam the brakes on a planned Tangled remake featuring a Black Rapunzel. The decision, reported by Daily Mail and ScreenRant, has sparked intense buzz, with Zegler—already reeling from Snow White’s fallout—reportedly unleashing a fiery response on social media. Fans are divided: some cheer Disney’s pause, fearing another “woke” misstep, while others slam it as a retreat from diversity, with Zegler’s outburst fueling the fire. Is this a pragmatic move or a creative surrender? Dive into the drama shaking the House of Mouse!

The Snow White Fallout

Disney’s Snow White, released March 2025, was a high-stakes reboot of the 1937 classic, starring Zegler as a modernized princess and Gal Gadot as the Evil Queen. Despite a $270 million budget, it flopped, earning $69 million domestically and $169 million globally, per Box Office Mojo. Critics gave it a 40% on Rotten Tomatoes, slamming CGI dwarfs and a weak script, per The Guardian. Zegler’s comments—calling the original “dated” and its prince “stalker-ish” (Variety)—and her political posts, like “free Palestine” and anti-Trump rants, drew backlash, with some blaming her for the film’s failure, per Newsweek.

The flop sent shockwaves. Daily Mail reported Disney braced for a $115 million loss, prompting a reevaluation of live-action remakes. Snow White’s woes—review-bombing, boycotts over Zegler’s and Gadot’s politics, and fan ire over changes like CGI dwarfs—made it a cautionary tale. Forbes noted Disney scaled back promotion, with a press-light premiere, signaling internal panic. Zegler, spotted watching the film in a near-empty theater (Daily Mail), became a lightning rod, with producer Marc Platt’s son Jonah blasting her “narcissistic” posts as box-office poison, per Variety.

Black Rapunzel Shelved

Disney’s Tangled remake, based on the 2010 animated hit with Mandy Moore and Zachary Levi, was in development with Michael Gracey (The Greatest Showman) attached to direct and a script by Jennifer Kaytin Robinson, per THR. Though no casting was confirmed, X posts and YouTube videos, like one from RKOutpost, claimed Disney planned a Black Rapunzel to diversify its princess lineup, following Zegler’s Latina Snow White and Halle Bailey’s Black Ariel. The idea sparked early buzz, with fans citing Tangled’s fairy-tale flexibility—Rapunzel’s hair, not race, defines her—as ideal for inclusive casting.

But Snow White’s collapse changed everything. Daily Mail reported Disney “hit pause” on Tangled, wary of another costly flop. ScreenRant confirmed the project’s indefinite hiatus, noting Disney’s rethinking its live-action strategy after Snow White and Mufasa: The Lion King underperformed ($717 million but below expectations). Sources told THR that executives behind Disney’s remake push stepped back, signaling a broader retreat. X posts speculated the Black Rapunzel idea was scrapped to avoid “woke” backlash, with one user writing, “Disney learned from Zegler’s mess—no more risks.”

The decision reflects market trends. Collider noted Disney’s live-action remakes—Cruella, The Little Mermaid—have faltered since Aladdin and The Lion King hit $1 billion pre-pandemic. Moana 2 and Inside Out 2 soared in 2024, suggesting audiences crave new stories, not rehashes. A 2023 YouGov poll found 62% of Disney fans prioritize fidelity to originals, and Snow White’s deviations—like a leadership-focused princess—alienated some. A Black Rapunzel, while progressive, risked similar pushback, especially after Snow White’s culture-war storm.

Zegler’s Explosive Reaction

Zegler, already battered by Snow White’s failure, reportedly “lost it” over Tangled’s cancellation, per X posts and a YouTube video titled “Rachel Zegler Completely LOSES IT After Snow White Flops.” Screenshots shared on X claim she posted on Instagram Stories: “Disney’s giving up on us? This isn’t about art—it’s cowardice.” Another alleged post read, “Representation matters, and they’re running scared.” The posts, unverified and since deleted, align with her history of bold statements, like her “free Palestine” tweet that prompted producer Platt to fly to New York for a reprimand, per Variety.

Her reaction, if true, reflects personal and professional stakes. Vanity Fair called Zegler a “scapegoat” for Snow White, noting Disney insiders pinned the flop on her to deflect from creative missteps. Her Latina casting drew racist hate, mirroring Bailey’s Little Mermaid backlash, per Cosmopolitan. Canceling a Black Rapunzel could feel like a betrayal of the diversity she championed, especially after she told Variety in 2022 that being a Latina princess was a dream. Supporters on X rallied, with one writing, “Rachel’s right—Disney’s abandoning inclusivity.” Critics, though, jabbed back: “She sank Snow White—now she’s mad?” (Daily Mail).

Zegler’s not alone in her frustration. The New Yorker argued Snow White’s failure was structural—Hollywood’s obsession with recycling IP—not her fault. Collider echoed this, citing audience fatigue with remakes. Yet, her outspokenness, from slamming Trump voters to clashing with Platt, has painted her as a “loose cannon,” per a Daily Mail source. Her Evita role in London’s West End keeps her career afloat, but ScreenRant noted she has no film roles lined up, fueling “canceled” rumors.

The Culture-War Cauldron

The Tangled pause isn’t just about money—it’s a culture-war flashpoint. Snow White was dubbed “woke” for Zegler’s casting, her feminist spin, and CGI dwarfs after Peter Dinklage’s critique of dwarfism stereotypes (Slate). A Black Rapunzel risked similar heat, with X posts warning of “another diversity disaster.” Newsweek noted Snow White’s review-bombing, with 91% of IMDb users giving it one star, driven by conservative outrage over Zegler’s politics and race. Disney’s retreat suggests fear of repeating this, especially with Moana’s 2026 live-action remake looming as a test, per Collider.

Fans are split. A 2024 X poll showed 48% back diverse casting if it fits, but Bored Panda found 71% of Disney fans “concerned” about Snow White’s changes. Supporters argue a Black Rapunzel could’ve honored Tangled’s spirit—its story isn’t race-specific—while reflecting a diverse audience (56% of U.S. viewers are non-white, per UCLA’s 2024 Diversity Report). Critics, though, echo Daily Mail’s framing: “Disney’s dodging another Zegler-level PR nightmare.” The New Yorker warned blaming Zegler “flatters” her influence, but the narrative persists.

Disney’s Next Move

Disney’s in a bind. THR reported the studio’s scaling back remakes, with Lilo & Stitch (2025) and Moana (2026) as litmus tests. Tangled’s pause doesn’t mean a Black Rapunzel is dead—ScreenRant noted production could resume—but Disney’s cautious. Variety suggested execs want “safe” promotion after Snow White’s chaos, where Zegler’s posts and Gadot’s Israeli background sparked boycotts. A BBC critic argued Zegler’s politics didn’t sway kids, the core audience, but Disney’s spooked by adult backlash.

Zegler’s career hangs in the balance. Deadline urged studios not to “punish” her talent, citing her Hunger Games success ($337 million). Her Evita gig and Broadway’s Romeo + Juliet praise keep her viable, but Daily Mail claimed Disney nearly cut her from Snow White over Trump comments. Supporters like Melissa Barrera, fired from Scream for pro-Palestine posts, call her “cool as hell” (Vanity Fair), but detractors, like Jonah Platt, brand her “immature” (BBC).

A Fairy Tale on Hold

Disney’s shelving of Black Rapunzel isn’t a full cancellation—THR called it a “hiatus”—but it’s a retreat from risk. Snow White’s flop, tied to Zegler’s controversies and remake fatigue, made the studio flinch. Zegler’s reported meltdown, while unconfirmed, fits her pattern of speaking out, from “free Palestine” to defending her Latina Snow White (The Pink News). Whether she’s a scapegoat or a liability, her voice amplifies the stakes.

The Tangled pause reflects Disney’s struggle: balance diversity with fan expectations in a polarized climate. Moana 2’s success shows new stories win, per Collider. A Black Rapunzel could’ve been a bold step, but Snow White’s scars—$115 million lost, per Deadline—loomed large. Zegler, defiant or defeated, remains a flashpoint. As one X user put it, “Disney’s scared, Rachel’s loud, and fans are torn—some fairy tale.” The story’s not over, but the tower’s locked for now.