Disney’s live-action remake of Snow White was supposed to be a billion-dollar blockbuster, a modern reimagining of a beloved classic. Instead, it turned into one of the studio’s biggest headaches. The film, which cost a whopping $270 million to make and went through multiple reshoots, opened to just $87 million worldwide. To put that in perspective, Warner Bros.’ Joker: Folie à Deux managed to rake in $34 million more despite having a budget that was $70 million less.
A Star’s Controversial Comments
Much of the trouble surrounding Snow White stemmed from its lead actress, Rachel Zegler. On August 12, 2024, just three days after introducing the film’s first official trailer at Disney’s D23 fan event, Zegler took to X (formerly Twitter) to celebrate the teaser’s impressive 120 million views in just 24 hours. But then, she followed up with an unexpected addendum: “and always remember, free Palestine.”
That single sentence quickly overshadowed her initial post, garnering 8.8 million views—nearly four times as many as her celebration of the trailer’s success. The reaction inside Disney was immediate and intense. Executives were shocked that their leading star had mixed politics with the promotion of a major studio tentpole. Producer Marc Platt even flew to New York to have a face-to-face discussion with Zegler about the post, but the actress stood firm. She refused to delete it, despite concerns from the studio and mounting backlash.
Behind the scenes, the fallout escalated. Death threats toward Zegler’s co-star, Gal Gadot, an Israeli actress, surged. Disney was forced to beef up security for Gadot, who is also a mother of four. “She didn’t understand the repercussions of her actions, what that meant for the film, for Gal, for anyone,” said an insider. The situation only worsened as time went on.
A History of Social Media Clashes
This wasn’t the first time Zegler had put Disney in a tough spot. Her relationship with the studio had already started to sour back in 2022, during the awards season campaign for West Side Story. When she wasn’t invited to the Oscars despite starring in a Best Picture nominee, she took to social media to complain, embarrassing both Disney and Steven Spielberg’s Amblin Partners. The Academy ultimately provided her with a ticket, but the damage was done.
Then came the Snow White controversy. At Disney’s D23 Expo, Zegler openly criticized the 1937 original, calling out the prince’s behavior as “literally stalking” the heroine. That moment, according to industry insiders, was when Disney lost control of the film’s narrative. “The first time she shoots her mouth off, you nip it in the bud,” said one top agent. Instead, Disney stayed silent, and longtime fans of the animated classic began to revolt.
Things escalated even further after the 2024 presidential election. Zegler posted “F*** Donald Trump” and “May Trump supporters … never know peace” on Instagram. That was the breaking point for Disney. The studio, already struggling with Snow White’s problematic production and public perception, couldn’t afford to alienate half its potential audience. Platt once again intervened, convincing Zegler to work with a Disney-paid social media strategist to vet her posts before the film’s release.
A Box Office Disaster
Despite these efforts, the damage had already been done. Snow White’s opening weekend numbers were far below expectations. An executive from a rival studio summed it up bluntly: “You can’t say that a live-action remake of the most iconic film in the vault that cost [$270] million and has been reshot multiple times opening to $50 million is OK. The math does not work. That movie should be a billion-dollar movie.” Ultimately, the film couldn’t even hit the low end of its projected $45-$55 million domestic opening, settling at just $43 million.
Hollywood studios are now grappling with how to manage stars who stir controversy on social media. While Gadot kept her comments limited to expressing support for hostages taken during the October 7 Hamas attack, Zegler repeatedly blurred the line between personal beliefs and professional responsibilities. Disney had been burned before—Gina Carano’s lawsuit against the studio in 2024 over her firing from The Mandalorian loomed large in executives’ minds—so they hesitated to intervene earlier.
More Than Just Social Media Drama
Of course, Snow White’s struggles weren’t entirely due to Zegler’s online presence. Several production issues contributed to the film’s downfall. COVID-related delays, a fire on set, and the actors’ strike all pushed back reshoots. Additionally, Disney’s recent live-action adaptations have been struggling at the box office. Dumbo flopped, Maleficent: Mistress of Evil underperformed, and Peter Pan & Wendy went straight to Disney+. The market for these remakes simply isn’t as strong as it once was.
Still, internal sources maintain that Zegler and Gadot had no real bad blood between them, despite the media’s attempts to paint their relationship otherwise. They got along well during production, though things became awkward leading up to the film’s release. When Zegler referred to Gadot as a “professional pageant queen” on Instagram, it was seen as a dismissive remark. Disney may have even fueled rumors of a feud by keeping the two actresses separate during promotional events.
By the time the March 15 premiere rolled around, Disney had all but given up on salvaging the film’s reputation. Traditional red-carpet interviews were scrapped in favor of photos only. Inside the El Capitan Theatre, Zegler and Gadot were seated apart, reinforcing the narrative of a fractured production.
What’s Next for Disney?
So, where does Disney go from here? Box office analyst Jeff Bock of Exhibitor Relations put it bluntly: “They say all press is good press, but in Snow White’s case, they were unabashedly wrong.” Too much controversy, coupled with mediocre reviews, led many potential ticket buyers to skip the film entirely. The only silver lining? The weak competition at the box office might allow Snow White to stick around a little longer than it otherwise would.
For Disney, this film’s failure is a wake-up call. The studio can’t afford another Snow White-level disaster. Whether it’s handling social media-savvy stars more carefully or reassessing its approach to live-action remakes, one thing is clear: the magic formula that once guaranteed success isn’t working anymore.
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