Disney’s Shocking Move to Replace Rachel Zegler with Brett Cooper as Snow White Sparks Outrage
Disney’s live-action Snow White has been a lightning rod for controversy since its March 2025 release, but a new rumor has sent shockwaves through Hollywood: reports claim Disney has “dumped” Rachel Zegler as Snow White, with conservative commentator Brett Cooper confirmed as her replacement for a new iteration of the film. Fueled by viral X posts and YouTube videos, the story has ignited debates about Disney’s casting decisions, the fallout from Snow White’s $400–$500 million loss, and the cultural politics surrounding the project. But is there any truth to this dramatic claim, and what does it reveal about Disney’s troubled remake strategy? Let’s dissect the rumor, explore the context of Zegler’s tenure and Cooper’s alleged casting, and uncover why this controversy is captivating the public.
The Snow White Fiasco: A Legacy Tarnished
Disney’s Snow White, directed by Marc Webb and released on March 21, 2025, aimed to modernize the 1937 animated classic with a feminist narrative. Starring Rachel Zegler as a leadership-driven Snow White, Gal Gadot as the Evil Queen, and Andrew Burnap in a reimagined male role, the film was backed by a $500 million budget ($370 million production, $100–$130 million marketing). Despite high expectations, it flopped, grossing just $182.4 million globally by mid-April 2025, with projections of $400–$500 million in losses, making it Disney’s costliest live-action remake failure, surpassing Mulan (2020, $69.9 million vs. $200 million budget).
The film faced relentless challenges: COVID-19 delays, Hollywood strikes, and a set fire inflated costs, while creative decisions sparked backlash. The use of CGI “magical creatures” instead of dwarf actors, prompted by Peter Dinklage’s criticism of stereotyping, outraged the dwarfism community, who protested the erasure of roles. Zegler’s 2022 comments calling the original film “weird” and her 2024 pro-Palestine tweet fueled controversy, alienating traditionalists and prompting a Middle Eastern ban. A 66% second-weekend box office drop, a 40% Rotten Tomatoes score, and a 1.6/10 IMDb rating sealed its fate, with competition from A Minecraft Movie’s $720 million run overshadowing its release.
Amid this turmoil, Zegler became a scapegoat, unfairly blamed for the film’s failure despite her praised performance. The rumor of her being replaced by Brett Cooper, a conservative YouTube host and actress, has added a new layer to the Snow White saga, raising questions about Disney’s next move.
The Rumor: Zegler Out, Cooper In?
The claim that Disney has “dumped” Rachel Zegler and cast Brett Cooper as a new Snow White surfaced on April 14, 2025, in an X post by @Draculordx, linking to a YouTube video titled “Rachel Zegler entra en pánico cuando Brett Cooper confirma que seguirá siendo Blancanieves!” (Rachel Zegler panics as Brett Cooper confirms she’ll remain Snow White). Another X post by @Vinod_r108 on April 20, 2025, alleged Zegler was “cancelled by Disney for being a brand risk.” These posts, amplified by fan speculation, suggest Disney is rebooting Snow White with Cooper, a 23-year-old conservative commentator known for The Daily Wire’s “The Comments Section” and her role in Lady Ballers (2023), to appease audiences alienated by Zegler’s progressive stance.
However, no credible evidence supports this rumor. Web searches and industry reports, including those from Screen Rant, Variety, and Deadline, show no confirmation of Zegler being replaced or Cooper being cast. Disney has not announced plans for another Snow White remake, and the studio’s pause on the Tangled remake suggests a retreat from high-risk projects, not a recasting of Snow White. Cooper, while a rising figure in conservative media, has no reported Disney ties, and her acting experience is limited to minor roles, making her an unlikely choice for a $500 million blockbuster. Zegler, meanwhile, continues to promote her upcoming projects, including Evita in London, and was spotted in New York City in April 2025, showing no signs of being “dumped.”
The rumor appears to be a fabrication, likely sparked by Snow White’s failure and Zegler’s polarizing public image. X posts reflect sentiment among conservative fans who view Cooper, with her traditionalist persona, as a counterpoint to Zegler’s activism. The narrative of Zegler’s “panic” and Disney’s pivot to Cooper thrives on clickbait, exploiting the film’s toxic online discourse without substantiation.
Zegler’s Vilification: A Scapegoat for Systemic Failures
Rachel Zegler has been at the center of Snow White’s controversies, often unfairly blamed for its collapse. Her casting as a Latina Snow White drew racist backlash, with critics arguing she didn’t fit the “fairest of them all” description. Her 2022 D23 remarks, labeling the original film’s prince a “stalker” and its narrative outdated, alienated fans, while her pro-Palestine tweet in August 2024 prompted Disney to increase security for Gadot after death threats and reportedly led producer Marc Platt to confront Zegler in New York. Jonah Platt, Marc’s son, publicly criticized her “narcissism” in a now-deleted Instagram post, accusing her of derailing the film with political posts.
Despite this, industry voices like Collider and Teen Vogue argue Zegler is not solely responsible. The film’s failure stems from systemic issues: budget mismanagement, cultural missteps, and an uneven marketing strategy targeting young audiences for an older-skewing story. Zegler’s performance earned praise, and her talent—evident in West Side Story (2021)—has secured her future roles, including Mamma Mia 3 and Frozen 3. Critics like Kelechi Ehenulo call her a victim of “culture wars,” noting that actors from underrepresented backgrounds, like Zegler’s Latina heritage, often face disproportionate backlash.
Brett Cooper: An Unlikely Snow White?
Brett Cooper, the rumored replacement, is a conservative media personality with a growing fanbase. Her Daily Wire show and role in Lady Ballers have made her a voice for traditional values, contrasting sharply with Zegler’s progressive activism. Fans on X speculate that Cooper’s casting would appeal to audiences frustrated by Snow White’s “woke” narrative, but her limited acting resume and lack of musical experience—crucial for Snow White’s role—make her an improbable choice for a Disney blockbuster. No reports link Cooper to Disney, and her only confirmed project is a Daily Wire series, not a major film. The rumor likely stems from wishful thinking among conservative fans, amplified by sensationalist content creators.
Disney’s Broader Crisis: A Remake Strategy in Tatters
Snow White’s failure is part of a troubling trend for Disney’s live-action remakes. While Beauty and the Beast ($1.2 billion) and The Lion King ($1.6 billion) were hits, recent efforts like Cruella ($233 million vs. $100 million budget), The Little Mermaid ($570 million but divisive), and Haunted Mansion ($117 million vs. $157 million) have underperformed. Snow White’s $400–$500 million loss, driven by a $370 million budget and cultural controversies, has prompted Disney to pause the Tangled remake and reevaluate its approach. Analysts suggest a shift to lower-budget originals or sequels like Moana 2, which grossed top figures in 2024.
The Snow White controversies—CGI dwarfs, Zegler’s comments, a Middle Eastern ban over her political stance—reflect Disney’s struggle to navigate cultural divides. The film’s 4,258-tonne carbon footprint also drew environmental criticism, adding to its negative narrative. The rumor of replacing Zegler with Cooper underscores fan frustration with Disney’s progressive choices, but it’s a fantasy unsupported by the studio’s current retrenchment.
The Cultural Divide: A Microcosm of Polarization
The Zegler-Cooper rumor encapsulates broader cultural tensions. Snow White’s attempt to modernize a classic through diverse casting and a feminist narrative sparked a culture war, alienating traditionalists while failing to fully resonate with progressive audiences. Zegler’s pro-Palestine stance and criticism of the original film became flashpoints, mirroring debates over representation and free speech. Cooper’s rumored casting reflects a conservative backlash, with X posts framing her as a “traditional” Snow White who could “restore” Disney’s legacy.
This narrative thrives on social media, where fans amplify speculation without evidence. The Snow White saga, like the Hailey Bieber-Selena Gomez drama, shows how celebrity controversies become proxies for larger ideological battles. Disney’s missteps—budget bloat, reactive decisions, cultural misalignment—fuel these flames, making the Zegler-Cooper rumor a symptom of a deeper crisis.
Why This Rumor Captivates
The claim that Disney replaced Rachel Zegler with Brett Cooper has gripped audiences because it taps into Snow White’s chaotic legacy and the public’s love for Hollywood drama. A $400–$500 million flop, relentless controversies, and now a supposed casting upheaval paint a picture of a studio in disarray. While the rumor lacks evidence, it reflects real tensions—fan-driven speculation, cultural polarization, and Disney’s struggle to balance tradition with progress. As Zegler moves forward and Cooper remains a conservative darling, this fabricated scandal proves that fairy tales can spark real-world firestorms—Why This Casting Rumor Is Stirring Up Hollywood Chaos!
