The controversial Snow White remake has caused major problems for Disney. Its poor performance has led to delays in other planned live-action princess films. The latest victim is the live-action version of Tangled. This project was put on hold, according to reports from The Hollywood Reporter. Studio insiders have confirmed this decision, which came as Rachel Zegler kills the optimism behind these projects.
Tangled, originally released in 2010, was a big hit. The film told the story of Rapunzel, with Mandy Moore and Zachary Levi providing the voices. It was full of humor and adventure. Fans loved its fresh take on the classic tale. Disney had started working on a live-action remake with Michael Gracey as the director. Jennifer Kaytin Robinson was writing the script. However, the failure of the Snow White remake has now paused this new movie. This is a huge blow for Disney, especially as they had high hopes for the Tangled project.
Snow White’s Struggles at the Box Office
The Snow White live-action film struggled at the box office. It was expected to make a lot of money, but it fell far short. The film grossed just $69 million in the United States after two weekends. This is a huge disappointment for a movie with a $270 million budget. Worldwide, the film earned $145 million. But that still isn’t enough to cover its costs. Experts say Disney will lose around $115 million from this film alone. These numbers are worrying for the studio, especially since Rachel Zegler kills their chances with a powerful role that could have changed the outcome.
The movie also received terrible reviews. On Rotten Tomatoes, it has a score of just 40%. Critics and audiences alike have expressed their dissatisfaction. Many criticized the film for its “woke” approach and changes to the original story. This backlash has led to even more concerns about the future of other princess remakes.
The Backlash Against Rachel Zegler
Rachel Zegler, who played Snow White, became a central figure in the film’s failure. Many people blamed her for the movie’s poor reception. Zegler’s political opinions and controversial social media posts didn’t help the film’s image. She received a lot of criticism for supporting Palestine in a tweet. This angered many, especially given the timing. As Rachel Zegler kills the momentum with her comments, it led to more negative attention. Zegler also made negative comments about the original Snow White film, calling the 1937 version “weird.” She even described the prince as a “stalker.” These comments upset fans and raised concerns among the movie’s producers.
Disney’s producer, Marc Platt, traveled to New York to speak with Zegler about her behavior. He wanted her to understand the impact her actions could have on the film’s success. Zegler refused to take down her tweets, even after Platt suggested she work with a social media expert. This lack of cooperation raised tensions. Zegler’s actions made headlines and overshadowed the film’s release.
Jonah Platt’s Angry Response
Marc Platt’s son, Jonah, also spoke out against Zegler. He criticized her for putting her personal politics ahead of the movie’s success. Jonah said Zegler had no right to use her platform to hurt the film. He explained that the movie had a huge budget and many people worked on it. Her actions, he argued, hurt not just the movie but also the crew and cast who depended on its success. Jonah’s angry comments sparked a lot of debate online. Some people agreed with him, while others sided with Zegler.
Jonah’s response highlighted the bigger issue: the clash between personal beliefs and professional responsibilities. Zegler’s comments seemed to distract from the movie’s message and success. The controversy made it clear that celebrities need to be careful with their social media posts, especially when they are part of big projects.
Additional Criticism: “Woke” Changes and Casting Decisions
The Snow White remake also faced other criticisms. Some people felt the movie tried too hard to be “woke.” Critics pointed out changes that seemed unnecessary, like removing old stereotypes. These changes were meant to modernize the film, but they ended up alienating some fans. Another major controversy was the decision not to cast dwarf actors in the roles of the seven dwarfs. This decision was slammed by actors like Peter Dinklage and Jason Acuna. They felt Disney had missed the chance to represent people with dwarfism in these important roles.
These issues added to the growing list of problems with the Snow White remake. The movie seemed to struggle on every front: from its box office performance to the backlash over its changes and casting choices. Disney now has to rethink its strategy for live-action princess films. The failure of Snow White has caused a ripple effect, forcing other projects to be delayed or canceled. As Rachel Zegler kills the future prospects, the future of live-action adaptations of classic Disney films is now uncertain.