Disney’s live-action Snow White remake, already branded one of the studio’s most significant failures in recent years, has taken another hit with a disastrous Mother’s Day re-release, deepening the financial and reputational wounds for both Disney and its star, Rachel Zegler. In a rare and candid interview with The Times while preparing for her West End debut in Evita, Zegler has finally broken her silence on the film’s fallout, offering a sobering reflection on the project’s missteps, her role in its controversies, and the lessons she’s learned. Her admission—that the remake tried to “do too much”—has reignited debates about Disney’s “woke” remake strategy, the pressures on young actresses, and the delicate balance of modernizing beloved classics.
A Fairytale Turned Financial Nightmare
Disney’s live-action Snow White, released on March 21, 2025, was anticipated to be a cornerstone of the studio’s ongoing remake strategy, following successes like The Lion King (2019) and Beauty and the Beast (2017). Directed by Marc Webb and starring Zegler as Snow White and Gal Gadot as the Evil Queen, the film aimed to reimagine the 1937 animated classic with a modern feminist lens, emphasizing Snow White’s leadership over romance. However, the project was mired in controversy from the start.
Zegler, a Latina actress of Colombian descent, faced racist backlash for her casting as a character traditionally described as having “skin as white as snow.” Her comments during the 2022 press tour, where she called the original film “weird” and the Prince a “stalker,” were seen by many as disrespectful to Disney’s legacy, alienating fans before the film even hit theaters. Additional controversies, including the decision to replace the seven dwarfs with CGI “magical creatures” and tensions between Zegler and Gadot over their opposing views on the Israel-Palestine conflict, further damaged the film’s prospects. Zegler’s “Free Palestine” tweet in August 2024 led to boycott campaigns, and the film was banned in Lebanon due to Gadot’s involvement.
When Snow White finally premiered, the reception was brutal. The film grossed just $168 million worldwide against a $240–270 million budget, resulting in a reported $115 million loss for Disney. Critics panned it, with The Independent giving it a one-star review, calling Zegler and Gadot’s performances “uninspired” and the CGI creatures “uncanny.” On Rotten Tomatoes, it scored a dismal 40%, and fans review-bombed it on IMDb, driving its rating down to 1.6 out of 10. Disney’s quarterly earnings report in May confirmed the film as a flop, alongside Marvel’s Captain America: Brave New World, marking a rare admission of failure from the studio.
The situation worsened with a Mother’s Day re-release on May 11, 2025. Disney reportedly distributed the film to 1,000 theaters across the U.S., hoping to capitalize on the holiday weekend and recoup some losses. However, posts on X suggest the re-release performed even worse than the initial run, though exact figures remain unverified. One user described the re-release as “an even bigger disaster,” noting empty theaters and lackluster turnout. The move has been widely mocked online, with some calling it Disney’s “final humiliation” for the project, further cementing Snow White’s status as a cautionary tale in the studio’s live-action remake saga.
Zegler’s Candid Admission
For months, Zegler has remained relatively quiet about the Snow White fallout, focusing instead on her upcoming projects, including her role in the horror-comedy Y2K (now streaming on Max) and her West End debut in Evita, set to open on June 14, 2025, at the London Palladium. But in a new interview with The Times, conducted while she rehearses for Evita, Zegler broke her silence, offering a raw and introspective take on the film’s failure and her role in its controversies.
“We tried to do too much,” Zegler admitted, her voice tinged with regret. “The intention was to create a Snow White for today’s audience—someone who’s a leader, not just a damsel waiting for a prince. But in trying to modernize the story, we lost sight of what made the original so special. I think we underestimated how much people love that classic fairytale, and I take responsibility for not being more mindful of that in how I spoke about it.”
Zegler’s comments refer in part to her 2022 remarks, where she called the 1937 film “weird” and the Prince a “stalker” during a promotional interview at D23 Expo. At the time, her intention was to highlight the remake’s feminist reimagining, but the remarks were perceived as dismissive, sparking a backlash that followed the film through its release. “I was 21, and I was so excited to talk about this new vision,” she said. “But I didn’t realize how my words would be taken. I deeply respect the original Snow White—it’s a piece of history. I wish I’d been more careful in how I expressed my thoughts.”
The actress also reflected on the broader creative missteps of the project. “There were so many elements we tried to juggle—updating the story, addressing diversity, rethinking the dwarfs, adding new characters like Jonathan [played by Andrew Burnap]. It was ambitious, but it ended up feeling disjointed,” she said. “I think we got caught between trying to please everyone and staying true to the story, and we didn’t fully succeed at either.”
A Polarized Response
Zegler’s admission has sparked a mixed reaction online. Supporters have praised her honesty, seeing it as a sign of growth. “Rachel owning her part in the Snow White mess while also pointing out the bigger picture is mature,” one fan wrote on X. “She was set up to fail by Disney’s bad decisions.” Others have highlighted her talent, noting that her vocal performance in the remake—particularly her rendition of “Someday My Prince Will Come”—was a rare bright spot, even amid the film’s flaws.
Critics, however, remain unmoved. Some argue that Zegler’s reflection comes too late, pointing to her earlier comments as a key factor in the film’s poor reception. “She alienated fans from the start by trashing the original,” one user commented on X. “Admitting that now doesn’t fix the damage.” Others have criticized her for not taking enough accountability, with one user writing, “She’s blaming the production, but her attitude didn’t help. The ‘woke’ remake narrative started with her.”
The “woke” label has been a persistent critique of the Snow White remake, with detractors arguing that Disney’s attempt to modernize the story—through diverse casting, a feminist narrative, and the removal of the dwarfs—sacrificed the charm and nostalgia of the original. Zegler addressed this directly in the interview, acknowledging the tension. “I understand why people felt we were trying to ‘fix’ something that wasn’t broken,” she said. “But I also think there’s value in reimagining stories for new generations. The challenge is finding a balance, and we didn’t quite get there.”
Disney’s “Woke” Remake Strategy Under Fire
The Snow White flop has broader implications for Disney’s live-action remake strategy, which has been a cornerstone of the studio’s box office success for over a decade. While films like Aladdin (2019) and The Lion King (2019) grossed over $1 billion each, recent efforts have struggled. Snow White’s failure, coupled with the underwhelming performance of Mufasa: The Lion King (2024), has led Disney to shelve plans for a live-action Tangled remake, signaling a potential shift in strategy.
Critics argue that Disney’s push for “woke” remakes—emphasizing diversity, modern gender dynamics, and social commentary—has alienated core audiences who value nostalgia above all. The decision to replace the dwarfs with CGI creatures, prompted in part by actor Peter Dinklage’s criticism of the original portrayal as “backwards,” was seen as a misstep, with many fans finding the new characters “uncanny” and poorly executed. Zegler’s casting, while a win for representation, became a lightning rod for racist backlash, highlighting the challenges Disney faces in navigating cultural debates.
“Disney is stuck between two worlds,” said film analyst Maria Torres. “They want to appeal to younger, more diverse audiences who care about representation and modern values, but they can’t afford to lose the older fans who grew up with these classics. Snow White tried to bridge that gap and fell into it instead.” The Mother’s Day re-release, intended to recoup some losses, only deepened the embarrassment, with reports of empty theaters underscoring the film’s lack of appeal.
The Toll on Zegler
For Zegler, the Snow White fallout has been a harsh lesson in the pressures of fame. At just 23, she’s already navigated a gauntlet of challenges, from racist trolling over her casting to the commercial failure of the film, which has been unfairly pinned on her by many. Her political outspokenness, including her “Free Palestine” tweet and post-election comments, has made her a polarizing figure, with some studios reportedly hesitant to cast her in big-budget projects.
In the interview, Zegler opened up about the emotional toll of the experience. “The hate I got after Snow White was overwhelming,” she said. “I’ve had to do a lot of work to protect my mental health and remind myself why I love acting. It’s been a steep learning curve, but I’m stronger for it.” She also expressed gratitude for her upcoming role in Evita, which she sees as a chance to return to her theatrical roots and connect with audiences in a new way. “Playing Eva Perón feels like a full-circle moment,” she said. “It’s a role I’ve dreamed of since I was a kid, and I’m pouring everything I have into it.”
A Path Forward
As Disney grapples with the fallout from Snow White, the studio must reassess its approach to live-action remakes, balancing innovation with nostalgia and providing better support for young stars like Zegler. For Zegler, the road ahead is challenging but not without hope. Her vocal talents, which shone in Snow White despite the film’s flaws, and her recent role in Y2K, which has gained traction on Max, suggest she can still resonate with audiences when given the right material.
The Snow White saga is a stark reminder that fairytales, even in 2025, are fraught with complexity. They carry the weight of history, nostalgia, and cultural expectations—elements that can’t be easily rewritten, no matter how noble the intentions. Zegler’s admission offers a rare glimpse into the challenges of navigating that terrain, and her next chapter in Evita may yet prove that she’s capable of rising above the ashes of this particular fairytale gone wrong.
