
Rachel Zegler, a rising star in Hollywood, has been at the center of various controversies recently.
Rachel Zegler is just 22 years old, yet she has already made a significant mark in the entertainment industry, starring in notable films like Steven Spielberg’s West Side Story (2019) where she got her big break. Another film Zegler is starring in is DC’s Shazam! Fury of the Gods (2023). Additionally, she is set to feature in the highly anticipated continuation of The Hunger Games franchise with The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes, and will play Lucy Gray Baird, this film releasing in 2023.
Rachel Zegler’s most prominent role to date was being cast as Snow White in Disney’s upcoming Snow White live-action adaptation of the 1937 animated classic Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. The live-action Snow White was announced a couple of years ago and is scheduled for release in 2024, but it could be delayed due to the ongoing Hollywood strikes, though this hasn’t been confirmed.
Disney has made several live-action films from classic Disney films like The Lion King (2019), The Jungle Book (2016), Cinderella (2015), Beauty and the Beast (2017) and The Little Mermaid (2023). However, none of these adaptations generated as much backlash as Disney’s live-action Snow White film, mainly due to the controversial comments made by Rachel Zegler, and the changes that Disney has announced to the film.
Rachel Zegler has openly stated that the love story will not be central to the new Snow White, and scenes involving the prince, portrayed by Andrew Burnap, she joked, might be entirely removed. She has occasionally made comments about the film and Walt Disney’s iconic original work.
Zegler has been vocal about her belief that the original character of Snow White embodies outdated notions of femininity and masculinity, essentially labeling Snow White as a “damsel in distress” who can only be saved by a strong prince. These comments about the original Snow White film have caused backlash and fans to feel strongly about her.
Recently, Zegler had to remove herself from Paddington 3 due to the ongoing SAG-AFTRA strikes. In addition, we can now shared that the Zegler project, Spellbound which is set to release in 2024, has encountered difficulties. Sadly, Apple has decided not to move forward with the animated feature film. Netflix is reportedly picking up the film with plans to release the movie in 2024. Spellbound was set to have a star-studded cast, with Rachel Zegler, Nicole Kidman, Javier Bardem, John Lithgow, Jenifer Lewis, and Nathan Lane.
‘SPELLBOUND’, starring @rachelzegler, is no longer moving forward at Apple amid the split between Apple and Skydance.
The project will be released through another studio next year.
(via Deadline) pic.twitter.com/04jDHICore
— One Take News (@OneTakeNews) October 18, 2023
IMDB states that the Spellbound film will follow the adventures of Ellian, the tenacious princess who must go on a daring quest to save her family and kingdom after a mysterious spell transforms her parents, the King and Queen of Lumbria, into monsters.
Fans wonder if Rachel Zegler’s involvement in Disney’s Snow White live-action backlash happens to be the decision to switch studios for Spellbound.
What are your thoughts on Rachel Zegler and another one of the films having issues? Do you think it is Zegler or another reason?