Controversial rumor explained: enna Ortega replaced Rachel Zegler as Snow White despite many controversies

False rumor: Jenna Ortega replacing Rachel Zegler as Snow White is completely untrue, despite controversy.
Zegler’s comments about her Snow White beinga leader, not a damsel in distress, led to backlash and internet rumors.
Ortega’s busy schedule makes it unlikely for her to replace Zegler, but she remains a rising star.

While Disney’s Snow White has been mired in controversy since it was first announced, the internet rumor that Jenna Ortega will be replacing Rachel Zegler as the titular princess is completely false. Releasing on March 21, 2025, Snow White is one of Disney’s many live-action remakes of their animated classics. Game of Thrones actor Peter Dinklage has been vocal in his criticism of the Snow White fairytale as a “backward story”. While Disney has gone on record that their film will be respectful of the dwarfism community, the Snow White criticisms don’t end there.

Rachel Zegler skyrocketed to fame in 2021 with her film debut as Maria in West Side Story. She was then cast as the lead in the Hunger Games prequel, and is clearly adept at playing young characters thrust into a new world of danger, like Snow White. Unfortunately, internet trolls criticized Disney casting an actor of Latin descent in the role of a princess whose skin is traditionally described as “white as snow“. These naysayers are definitely in the minority, and with Jenna Ortega also being Latina, the replacement rumor didn’t stem from this controversy. So, where did it come from?

Rachel Zegler’s Snow White Criticisms Led To A False Rumor About Jenna Ortega Replacing Her

A TikTok Account Reported That Ortega Was “Excited” To Take On The Role Of Snow White

The Jenna Ortega-Rachel Zegler casting rumor was likely a result of Zegler’s comments criticizing the 1937 Snow White movie. In an interview with Variety, Zegler was emphatic that her new Snow White is not a girl waiting to be saved by the prince or swooning about true love, but rather a leader with agency. The actor said:

“I just mean that it’s no longer 1937. We absolutely wrote a Snow White that… she’s not going to be saved by the prince, and she’s not going to be dreaming about true love; she’s dreaming about becoming the leader she knows she can be.”

Zegler was also critical of the original Prince Charming, saying, “He literally stalks [Snow White].” This led to a backlash, with many wondering if Disney would fire Zegler for her vocal disdain for their first animated feature. Zegler’s departure from Paddington 3 also played a role in speculation that her remarks may have gotten her blackballed from Hollywood.

Zegler’s reason for parting ways with Paddington 3 was due to the 2023 SAG-AFTRA strike.

Ortega entered the mix in October 2023 when TikTok account @Celebrity_Corner uploaded a now-unavailable three-part post series stating that Ortega was in the midst of reshoots for Snow White (as reported by Inside the Magic). The TikTok posts cited Disney’s concern that Zegler’s would result in another “bad box office flop” as the reason for the alleged replacement.

Inside the Magic also reported on the TikTok account’s claims that Ortega was “appreciative” of the opportunity, and Disney’s official recasting announcement would come with the trailer drop. A video titled “Jenna Ortega EXCITED to REPLACE Rachel Zegler From Snow White” also shared positive fan response to the rumor. But whether people wanted Ortega to replace Zegler or not, there’s no merit to the rumor, and Zegler will remain as Snow White.