How Rachel Zegler could become a $300 million liability for Disney

Here's everything about Rachel Zegler and the Snow White controversy.

In 1937, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs gave Disney the magical kiss that awakened its dream kingdom. It was such a great achievement that Walt Disney himself called the film "the father of everything." Now, almost a century later, the live-action remake of the classic seems to be biting a very different apple - and for many, it came straight from the Evil Queen's basket.

With a massive budget of over $300 million and appalling reviews that would render even a magic mirror ashamed, the film is in hot water. How can it keep its charm when the audience is more inclined to boycott than to sing "Hi-Ho"? Follow me while I explain how Rachel Zegler could become a $300 million liability for Disney.

The weight of history—how Snow White created Disney

Imagine a world without Snow White. We wouldn't just lack theme parks or singing princesses, but Disney might never have existed as we know it. When the film premiered in 1937, it was revolutionary: a full-length, colorful, and magical animated movie.

But tampering with something with such a legacy is more complicated than negotiating with a temperamental mirror. We get it that Disney wants to update the tale for younger audiences, focusing on women's strength and leadership. Nonetheless, many fans think this might be a bad idea. After all, if the original animation was already the "most beautiful of all", why try to recreate it?

Rachel Zegler—the actress at the center of the controversy

The rising star from 'West Side Story', Rachel Zegler, was cast to bring the new Snow White to life; however, instead of a magical fairy tale, what followed was more in the likes of a telenovela. She triggered a media storm by criticizing the original film, leading to widespread backlash and heated arguments.

Rachel Zegler upset the fans when she said that 'Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs' was "outdated." She further declared that the new version would focus on a stronger and more independent protagonist, without the need for a prince. The intention to modernize was praiseworthy, but many interpreted it as a criticism of the original work, and we have seen other examples of how this is something that never goes down well with purists.

Things got complicated when political topics came into the discussion. Rachel Zegler spoke openly about her views on the American elections, criticizing Donald Trump and his supporters. This caused a strong reaction, with many people calling to boycott the movie. In a scenario where public figures are increasingly analyzed under digital microscopes, these positions further polarized the reception of the project.

Adding more fuel to the fire, Rachel Zegler and Gal Gadot reportedly clashed over political disagreements about the Israel-Hamas conflict, creating additional tension during the film's production.

On X (formerly Twitter), the criticisms were incisive:

From promising icon to controversial symbol, Rachel Zegler now faces double pressure: convincing critics and still carrying the weight of a classic on her shoulders.

Trailer reactions: "A mirror that doesn't reflect magic"

The trailer release should have been a magical moment—but the spell seems to have backfired. With over 1 million "dislikes" on YouTube, the film's preview was received with a chorus of criticisms that would make even the dwarfs lose their good humor.

Among the comments on X, one in particular captures the general mood:

Others highlighted the excess of CGI, the blurry visual tone, and even the narrative choices. One user summarized the sentiment by saying:

The negative reception raises an important question: does the public still have room for remakes that transform classics into something almost unrecognizable?

A budget that could buy a castle

With over $300 million spent between production and marketing, Snow White carries the weight of an entire kingdom upon its shoulders. But it seems very likely that only a miracle could turn this investment into profit.

If the film fails, it could go down in history as one of Disney's biggest financial disasters. And considering that Pinocchio went straight to Disney+ after lukewarm reactions, some fans are already suggesting the same fate for Snow White.

However, others point out that Disney still has time to adjust its strategy. As Dylan Malone commented on X, in reply to JimShull:

Conclusion—An apple that can be saved?

For Disney, Snow White is an icon, the very foundation of everything. But this new version is more like a cracked mirror than a magical reflection. The public has made it clear that they're not buying the new vision, but the story is not over yet.

If the studio can listen to the criticisms and adjust the course, perhaps this apple can be saved. Otherwise, all that remains for the magic mirror is to whisper its final, haunting question—Who will bear the blame for this epic failure?