Rachel Zegler’s Meltdown as Disney Announces Another Snow White Remake: A Fairy Tale Fiasco Continues
Disney’s live-action Snow White remake, released on March 21, 2025, was meant to be a triumphant reimagining of the 1937 classic that launched the studio’s fairy-tale empire. Starring Rachel Zegler as Snow White and Gal Gadot as the Evil Queen, the film instead became a historic disaster, tanking with a 1.6/10 IMDb rating, a $115 million box office loss, and thousands of theaters dropping it for A Minecraft Movie. Just weeks after the dust settled, Disney dropped a bombshell on April 16, 2025, announcing another Snow White remake, this time a “reimagined animated feature” slated for 2028. Reports claim Zegler, already battered by the fallout of her film’s failure, has reacted with fury, publicly lashing out at Disney’s decision. As Hollywood reels from the news, what’s driving Disney to revisit Snow White so soon, and why is Zegler’s response sparking such intense debate? Let’s dive into the controversy, from corporate missteps to personal frustrations, and explore why this fairy tale refuses to fade quietly.
The Snow White Debacle: A Recap of Disaster
The 2025 Snow White remake was plagued by controversy from its inception. Announced in 2016, the project aimed to modernize the Grimm tale with a feminist Snow White and a diverse cast. Rachel Zegler, a 23-year-old Latina actress of Colombian descent, was cast as the lead, fresh off her Golden Globe-winning role in West Side Story (2021). Her casting drew racist backlash from conservative fans who argued she didn’t fit the character’s “skin as white as snow” description. Zegler fired back in a deleted tweet: “Yes, I am Snow White, no I am not bleaching my skin for the role.” Her criticism of the 1937 original, particularly its “stalker” prince and outdated gender roles, further inflamed tensions. In a 2022 Extra TV interview, she declared, “Snow White is not dreaming about true love—she’s dreaming about becoming a leader.” These remarks alienated traditionalists, who accused her of disrespecting Disney’s legacy.
The film’s creative choices added fuel to the fire. Disney replaced the Seven Dwarfs with CGI “magical gnomes” after actor Peter Dinklage criticized the original for perpetuating stereotypes, a move that angered the dwarfism community and fans alike. Gal Gadot’s casting as the Evil Queen brought additional scrutiny. Her vocal support for Israel, tied to her Israel Defense Forces service, clashed with Zegler’s pro-Palestine activism, notably her August 2024 X post: “and always remember, free Palestine,” which garnered 8.8 million views. Rumors of a feud between the co-stars swirled, amplified by Zegler’s Instagram posts omitting Gadot and Disney’s decision to keep them apart at the March 15 premiere.
When Snow White hit theaters, it was a catastrophe. Its $42.2 million domestic opening weekend paled against a $270 million budget, and it plummeted 66% to $14.3 million in its second weekend. By April 2025, it had grossed just $173 million globally, far short of the $500 million needed to break even. IMDb’s 1.6/10 rating, based on 338,000 votes, reflected rampant review-bombing, with 90% of reviews giving one star. Critics gave mixed reviews, with a 41% Rotten Tomatoes score, praising Zegler’s luminous performance but panning Gadot’s “flat” Evil Queen and the film’s uneven script. X posts fueled the backlash, with users slamming its “woke” agenda and targeting both actresses’ politics. By mid-April, over 1,600 theaters dropped the film, replacing it with A Minecraft Movie, which soared to $551 million globally.
Disney’s Shocking Pivot: A New Snow White Remake
On April 16, 2025, Disney stunned the industry by announcing a new Snow White project: an animated feature set for release in 2028, directed by Moana 2 helmer David Hand Jr., whose father co-directed the 1937 original. Billed as a “reimagined classic,” the film will reportedly return to the traditional story, retaining the Seven Dwarfs and focusing on romance, with a “hand-drawn aesthetic” to evoke the original’s charm. Disney CEO Bob Iger, speaking at a shareholder meeting, called it a “celebration of our heritage,” emphasizing the studio’s commitment to “timeless storytelling.” No casting details were shared, but sources suggest Disney is eyeing a “global search” for a new Snow White, explicitly excluding Zegler and Gadot.
The announcement came as Disney grappled with the 2025 remake’s fallout. Variety reported the studio’s decision to pause other live-action remakes, including Tangled, signaling a strategic shift. Analysts speculated the new Snow White is an attempt to appease traditional fans alienated by the 2025 version’s modern updates. The Hollywood Reporter noted Disney’s recent success with Moana 2, which grossed $300 million globally by April 2025, as a model for the new project’s family-friendly approach. X posts reflected mixed reactions, with some users praising the return to tradition—“Finally, a REAL Snow White!”—and others mocking Disney’s haste: “They’re remaking the remake already? Zegler’s film isn’t even cold!”
Zegler’s Explosive Reaction
Reports claim Zegler reacted with outrage to Disney’s announcement, viewing it as a personal and professional betrayal. While no verified public statement confirms her “going crazy,” sources close to the actress told Deadline she feels “blindsided” and “humiliated” by the studio’s move. Zegler, who poured two years into the role, reportedly believes Disney is scapegoating her for the 2025 film’s failure while ignoring its own missteps. Her frustration spilled onto social media, where she posted a cryptic Instagram story on April 16: “Some stories deserve to be told once. Focus on new ideas, not recycling the past.” Fans interpreted this as a jab at Disney, with one X user writing, “Rachel’s DONE with Disney’s nonsense. They threw her under the bus.”
Zegler’s reaction is rooted in the intense scrutiny she’s faced. Since 2022, she’s been a lightning rod for criticism, from racist attacks to accusations of “wokeness.” Her pro-Palestine activism, particularly the August 2024 X post, sparked death threats against Gadot and prompted Disney to hire a social media manager to vet her posts. The studio’s muted marketing for Snow White, including a press-free premiere and late ticket sales, left Zegler feeling unsupported. Forbes reported that producer Marc Platt’s son, Jonah, publicly called Zegler “immature” on Instagram for “hijacking” the film’s narrative, a post he later deleted. The new remake’s announcement, so soon after her film’s collapse, has intensified her sense of betrayal.
Why Disney’s Move Is Sparking Debate
Disney’s decision to greenlight another Snow White has divided fans and industry insiders. Supporters argue it’s a smart pivot to reclaim the studio’s heritage after the 2025 remake alienated traditionalists. Newsweek noted the 1937 film’s enduring appeal, with its 98% Rotten Tomatoes score and $418 million inflation-adjusted gross, suggesting a return to that formula could win back families. The success of Moana 2 and The Super Mario Bros. Movie (2023) underscores the demand for animated, nostalgic IP. Disney’s press release emphasized “authenticity,” hinting at a deliberate rejection of the 2025 film’s progressive changes.
Critics, however, see the move as a desperate attempt to erase a PR disaster. The New Yorker argued Disney is “running from its own shadow,” noting the studio’s failure to defend Zegler or address the review-bombing that tanked the 2025 film. The rapid announcement—less than a month after Snow White’s theatrical run ended—has fueled accusations of opportunism. X posts like one from @CinemaSentry called it “corporate gaslighting,” suggesting Disney is punishing Zegler for the film’s failure while ignoring systemic issues, such as its $270 million budget and lackluster marketing. The decision to exclude Zegler and Gadot has also raised eyebrows, with ScreenRant speculating it’s an attempt to avoid their political controversies.
The Bigger Picture: Disney’s Remake Crisis
The Snow White saga reflects broader challenges for Disney’s live-action remake strategy. Hits like The Lion King (2019) and Beauty and the Beast (2017) proved the model’s potential, but recent flops, including The Little Mermaid (2023) and Pinocchio (2022), exposed its limits. Entertainment Weekly reported Disney’s pause on Tangled and Hercules remakes, citing “audience fatigue” with recycled IP. The 2025 Snow White’s failure, compounded by review-bombing and cultural polarization, has forced a reckoning. Forbes argued the studio’s reliance on nostalgia, without bold innovation, risks further alienating audiences.
Zegler’s career hangs in the balance. Despite critical praise for her Snow White performance, her association with the flop and her outspoken activism have made her a polarizing figure. Her upcoming roles in Y2K and Mufasa: The Lion King (both 2025) offer a chance to rebound, but Variety warned that repeated box office failures could limit her blockbuster appeal. Gadot, less tethered to the Snow White narrative, is set for Fast X: Part 2 (2026), though her political baggage remains a challenge. Disney, meanwhile, faces pressure to deliver with Lilo & Stitch and Moana in 2026, with analysts urging a shift toward original storytelling.
What’s Next for the Fairy Tale?
The new Snow White remake is a high-stakes gamble for Disney. A return to the 1937 roots could restore fan goodwill, but it risks reigniting debates about representation and gender roles. Zegler’s reaction, while emotional, underscores the personal toll of Hollywood’s high-stakes machine. As she navigates the fallout, her supporters on X rally with hashtags like #StandWithRachel, while detractors mock her “meltdown.” The Snow White saga, far from a fairy-tale ending, is a stark reminder of the challenges facing Disney in a polarized, social media-driven era. Whether the 2028 remake redeems the story or reignites the firestorm, one thing is certain: this tale is far from over.
