The premiere of the Live-Action version ofSnow WhiteIn March 2025 he marked a turning point for Rachel Zegler, but not in the expected way. The film, which promised to modernize the 1937 Disney classic, became a historical failure at the box office, raising only 143.1 million dollars compared to a budget of 270 million, according to Espinof data. The criticism, which ranged between warm and devastating, aimed at creative decisions, the use of CGI for dwarfs and, to a large extent, to Zegler herself, whose political position and comments on social networks unleashed a media storm. Now, the 23 -year -old actress seeks to recover her image and has revealed a meeting with Halle Bailey, the protagonist ofThe Little Mermaid, to explore an ambitious project: a shared universe of Disney princesses in cinema and streaming.
From the announcement of his casting in 2021, Zegler faced criticism for his Latin ancestry, considered by some inadequate for a princess described as “white skin like snow.” The controversies intensified when, during the promotion, Zegler described the blue prince of the original version as a “stalker” and advocated a snowy leading, not focused on romantic love. These statements, added to a tweet in August 2024 where he expressed “free Palestine” after sharing the film’s trailer, generated a chain reaction. According to Variety, producer Marc Platt traveled to New York to ask him to eliminate the message, but Zegler remained firm. The tweet, which reached 8.8 million visualizations, caused tensions with Disney and criticism of conservative sectors, including Jonah Platt, son of the producer, who called it “immature” and “narcissistic.” In addition, the co -star Gal Gadot, of Israeli origin, received threats, forced Disney to strengthen his safety.
The failure ofSnow WhiteIt is not attributed only to Zegler. Production decisions, such as replacing actors with dwarfism with CGI characters after the criticisms of Peter Dinklage, were badly received. David Hale Hand, son of the director of the original film, also expressed his discontent, stating that the new version betrayed the spirit of the classic. IMDB criticisms, with a 1.6 out -of -10.3% note of a star, reflect areview bombingsimilar toThe Little Mermaidof Halle Bailey. Despite this, Disney advanced the streaming premiere as of May 13, 2025, seeking to minimize losses, according to Vandal Random.
In this context, Zegler has taken measures to reorient his career. His meeting with Halle Bailey, revealed in a recent interview with photograms, points to an innovative project: an interconnected Disney princess universe, inspired by the Marvel film universe model. Both actresses, who have faced racist criticism for their respective roles, discussed how their characters could interact in stories that combine cinema and Disney+. The idea, even in the initial phase, seeks to take advantage of the popularity of princesses to create modern narratives that highlight leadership and diversity, moving away from traditional tropes. “Halle and I share the experience of being pointed out, but also the passion for telling stories that inspire new generations,” Zegler said, according to photograms.
This project could be a salvation table for Zegler, who, despite the reverse, continues to demonstrate resilience. His next role in dramatic comedyShe Gets It From Me, together with Marisa Tomei, marks a change of course towards more intimate stories, based on mother-daughter relationships. The film, directed by Julia von Heinz, explores identity and reconciliation issues, and already generates expectations for its emotional approach. In addition, Zegler has received support from figures such as Diego Calva, Melissa Barrera and Pedro Pascal, who have highlighted their talent and authenticity against networks in networks.
Zegler’s path has not been easy. Like Bailey, he faced prejudices from his casting, with comments that questioned their suitability for their Colombian heritage. However, both have turned hatred into a strength lesson. As Bailey pointed out in 2023, according to Yahoo, the videos of African -American children celebrating Ariel demonstrated the impact of representation. Zegler, on the other hand, has emphasized that his Snow White is not defined by skin color, but for his resistance, inspired by a version of the story where he survived a snowstorm at birth.
