Disney’s live-action Snow White remake, already mired in controversy, faces fresh turmoil as reports surface that star Gal Gadot, who plays the Evil Queen, has threatened to walk away from the project. The escalation, fueled by a fiery discussion on The Joe Rogan Experience podcast and detailed in a YouTube video titled “Gal Gadot THREATENS TO QUIT As Joe Rogan EXPOSES Snow White Drama!” by TheQuartering on April 16, 2025, has thrust the film’s behind-the-scenes tensions into the spotlight. With Snow White projected to lose Disney upwards of $115 million following a lackluster box office performance, the controversy—marked by casting disputes, creative missteps, and accusations of “woke” overreach—raises serious questions about the studio’s live-action remake strategy and its ability to navigate cultural and creative challenges.

The Snow White remake, released in March 2025, stars Rachel Zegler as Snow White and Gadot as the Evil Queen, directed by Marc Webb with a $250 million budget. Intended to modernize the 1937 animated classic, the film reimagined Snow White as a proactive leader, downplaying the romantic subplot with the Prince, played by Andrew Burnap. However, the project faced backlash from the outset, driven by Zegler’s 2023 comments dismissing the original’s romance as “creepy” and promising a “progressive” take. These remarks, coupled with script changes emphasizing female empowerment, alienated traditional audiences, leading to review-bombing on IMDb, where the film holds a record-low 1.5/10 rating, per a post by @historyinmemes on X. The film’s global box office of $143 million, reported by Variety, marks it as one of Disney’s biggest financial disappointments.

Joe Rogan’s podcast, featuring guest commentator Gina Carano, brought the Snow White drama to a wider audience. Rogan, known for his unfiltered takes, criticized Disney’s approach, arguing that the studio’s push for “woke” narratives—such as altering Snow White’s story to avoid “damsel-in-distress” tropes—ignored the fairy tale’s timeless appeal. Carano, a former Disney actress fired from The Mandalorian over controversial social media posts, claimed insider knowledge of tensions on the Snow White set, alleging that Gadot felt “misled” about the film’s direction. The YouTube video cites Carano’s assertion that Gadot, initially enthusiastic about playing a complex villain, grew frustrated with last-minute script changes that softened the Evil Queen’s role to avoid “offensive” stereotypes. Rogan called the situation a “trainwreck,” accusing Disney of “sacrificing story for ideology.”

Gadot’s reported threat to quit, first mentioned by The Daily Mail on April 10, 2025, stems from her dissatisfaction with the film’s post-production handling and public fallout. Sources close to the actress, cited by The Hollywood Reporter, claim she felt “blindsided” by the extent of Zegler’s controversial remarks and the studio’s failure to manage the backlash. Gadot, whose $20 million paycheck made her one of the film’s highest-paid stars, reportedly demanded Disney address the negative press or risk her withdrawal from promotional events and potential sequels. “Gal feels the film was misrepresented as something it’s not,” an insider told Deadline. “She’s protective of her reputation and doesn’t want to be tied to a sinking ship.”

The Snow White controversy is rooted in broader issues with Disney’s live-action remakes. While Beauty and the Beast (2017) and Aladdin (2019) grossed over $1 billion each, recent entries like Pinocchio (2022) and Mufasa: The Lion King (2024) have underperformed, with the latter earning $330 million against a $200 million budget, per Box Office Mojo. Critics argue that Disney’s remakes often struggle to balance modern sensibilities with nostalgia, resulting in films that feel neither fresh nor faithful. Snow White’s casting of Zegler, a Latina actress, as the titular character—described in the original as having “skin white as snow”—sparked accusations of “race-swapping,” though defenders, including a Vox op-ed, argued that fairy tales transcend ethnic specificity. Zegler’s public feud with conservative commentators, including posts on X calling critics “bigots,” further polarized audiences.

Disney’s handling of Snow White has drawn comparisons to its scrapped Tangled live-action remake, paused in April 2025 after Snow White’s failure. The Wrap reported that Tangled, which had Michael Gracey attached, was shelved to avoid repeating Snow White’s mistakes, particularly around casting and narrative changes perceived as pandering. X user @OliLondonTV noted, “Disney halts development on Tangled live action movie, amid Snow White’s disastrous box office performance,” reflecting fan relief. Posts on X, such as @SkullishaDemon’s call to “stop supporting these soulless remakes,” underscore a growing sentiment that Disney’s remakes betray their animated originals.

Rogan and Carano’s critique aligns with a broader backlash against Disney’s perceived “woke” agenda. On his podcast, Rogan argued that studios like Disney are “lecturing audiences” rather than entertaining, citing a 2024 Rasmussen Reports poll where 68% of viewers prefer faithful adaptations. Carano claimed that Disney’s internal culture discourages dissent, alleging that executives ignored warnings about Snow White’s script from crew members. The YouTube video amplifies these claims, with TheQuartering asserting that Disney’s focus on “diversity quotas” and “feminist rewrites” doomed the film. Conservative outlets like Daily Wire have framed Snow White as a cautionary tale, with columnist Ben Shapiro tweeting, “Disney’s Snow White is what happens when you let ideology trump story.”

Defenders of the remake argue that updating classics is necessary to reflect modern values. A New York Times analysis noted that the 1937 Snow White’s passive heroine and outdated gender roles are less relatable to today’s audiences, particularly younger viewers who favor empowered protagonists. Zegler’s casting was praised by some as a step toward inclusivity, with Teen Vogue highlighting her vocal talent and cultural resonance. However, the film’s execution—marked by CGI-heavy visuals, a rushed production schedule, and a tonal clash between modern and traditional elements—failed to win over critics, earning a 32% Rotten Tomatoes score.

Disney’s financial woes add urgency to the controversy. The studio’s streaming division reported a $300 million loss in Q4 2024, per The Wall Street Journal, and Disney+’s 150 million subscribers trail Netflix’s 290 million, according to Statista. CEO Bob Iger, in a February 2025 earnings call, acknowledged the risks of over-relying on remakes, vowing to prioritize “storytelling over messaging.” The Snow White fallout has prompted Disney to greenlight original projects like Inside Out 3 and explore unconventional IPs like Where’s Waldo, per The Hollywood Reporter. These moves suggest a strategic pivot, though the Tangled cancellation indicates caution around high-risk remakes.

Gadot’s potential exit poses a significant challenge for Disney, given her star power and the Evil Queen’s pivotal role. Her performance, praised by some critics as a highlight, contrasted with Zegler’s polarizing presence, which dominated headlines. Forbes contributor Mark Hughes suggested that Gadot’s departure could further damage Disney’s brand, already bruised by Snow White’s failure. “Disney needs Gal to stabilize the narrative,” Hughes wrote. “Losing her would signal deeper dysfunction.” Meanwhile, Zegler’s silence on Gadot’s threat, coupled with her reduced public appearances, has fueled speculation of strained relations between the co-stars.

The Snow White drama reflects broader industry trends. Universal’s Wicked (2024) and Paramount’s Sonic the Hedgehog 3 (2024) have outperformed Disney’s recent offerings, capitalizing on original storytelling and fan goodwill. CNN analyst Paul Dergarabedian noted that audiences are “voting with their wallets,” favoring films that respect their source material or offer fresh narratives. Disney’s pivot to Angry Birds 3 and Inside Out 3 aligns with this trend, but the Snow White debacle underscores the risks of misjudging audience expectations.

On X, reactions range from schadenfreude to frustration. @FilmUpdates reported Gadot’s threat neutrally, while @DiscussingFilm noted Disney’s “reassessment” of its remake strategy. Fans like @SnowWhiteFan88 lamented, “Snow White was my childhood, and they ruined it,” while others, like @HollywoodHandle, praised the Tangled cancellation as a “wake-up call.” The polarized discourse highlights the high stakes for Disney, which must rebuild trust with a fanbase divided over its creative direction.

The Snow White controversy, amplified by Rogan’s platform and Gadot’s ultimatum, marks a pivotal moment for Disney. The studio’s ability to learn from this misstep—balancing innovation, fidelity, and cultural sensitivity—will shape its future in a competitive market. For now, the fairy tale’s magic lies in tatters, and whether Disney can restore it remains an open question.