Introduction
Disney is once again drawing ire with their live-action rendition of Snow White, which stars Rachel Zegler and Gal Gadot, as the titular character and the Evil Queen respectively. This movie has been highly anticipated since the moment of its announcement. However, the project has faced a multitude of challenges during its development such as arguments over casting, social media scandals, and even political issues.
Box Office Results
Sadly, Snow White did not deliver like Disney had intended, resulting in further financial woes for The House of Mouse. The movie’s current box office reported total sits at around 43 million, with estimates suggesting that it costs approximately 270 million to produce. It’s safe to say that this will definitely be added to the growing list of concerns Disney has regarding the overall reception of its movies, marketing, and controversy-driven casting decisions.
Diversity and Inclusion
Another contentious issue that brought Snow White into the limelight is its casting choice for Snow White herself. Zegler is a Colombian actress and her casting is extremely different from what people generally expect for the princess. Many were angry as they saw this as “traditions being thrown out”, however, Zegler’s supporters deemed it a much needed step towards inclusivity in Hollywood.
Those in support strongly believe that Zegler’s casting is reflective of a new and contemporary take on the beloved character which reinforces the notion that fairytales need to be adjusted to the modern day.
Throughout social media, she has interacted with Latino children while accentuating the significance of a kind heart over outer beauty. Yet, some critics of Disney’s decision to cast a Latina actress as Snow White claim that it had nothing to do with the story, but rather politics. The ongoing debate of representation in films is still an issue with Snow White acting as a central point for wider consideration of diversity in Hollywood.
Social Media Controversies Zegler’s performance on other platforms have greatly influenced the reception of the movie. She has been very vocal about her support for Palestine, as well as her criticism towards Trump. These claims split the audience into those who supported her stance, and those who accused her of over-politicizing the film’s marketing.
To add more fuel to the fire, Jonah Platt, the son of Snow White’s producer, Marc Platt, came forward to publicly lambast Zegler. He said that her personal politics and her being too candid about it all actively worked against the success of the film. Her outspoken nature, in his view, ensured that the film’s most basic marketing goals would be impossible to achieve. Alongside that, some of Zegler’s old social media accounts came back into the public eye, worsening the controversy.
On Set Tensions
Some reports suggested that Rachel Zegler and her co-star Gal Gadot had some rifts between them that stemmed from their differing takes on the Israel-Palestine conflict. As an Israeli, Gadot has been outspoken in her support of Israel in previous conflicts. By contrast, Zegler’s social media activity has suggested that she is pro-Palestinian. These different views likely created some form of tension during and after filming and its associated promotional events.
The supposed feud between the two leading actresses has added more fuel to the fire of whether personal beliefs of the actor affect how the movie is accepted. A part of the audience has struggled to dissociate the movie from its creators, which affects the reputation of the movie as a whole.
Reactions From The Public including Industry Experts
Snow white has become a topic of discussion for a variety of reasons. The film has sparked debates on how representation or lack thereof in Hollywood has an effect, how personal beliefs of an actor have a bearing on their work, and much more making it an exceptional example of an ever changing phase of entertainment.
Some applaud Disney’s effort to refresh the tale while others think the debates that followed the film’s release detracted from its visual and artistic merit. The question of whether an actor should be politically correct while propagating a movie is still very much alive in the entertainment world.
In the end, Snow White showcases the dynamics between the triple threat of entertainment, advocacy, and representation, and demonstrates the issues that continue to challenge the Hollywood of today.
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