What went wrong: the main reasons for the failure of the new `Snow White` even before the premiere

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Usually, failures occur after a movie is released. But with the new "Snow White" (2025) from Disney, it's different — audience outrage began long before the trailer appeared.

It seems everything came together here: not entirely successful casting, controversial statements by actors, distrust of modern Disney. So what went wrong in the kingdom that once knew how to create fairy tales?
Rachel Zegler in a blue dress raised her palm to the sky and is smiling up
Rachel Zegler in the movie "Snow White"
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Main Character Who Doesn't Want to Be a Princess

, the actress playing Snow White, has repeatedly found herself at the center of scandals. She openly criticized the original 1937 animated film, stating that the new Snow White will not wait for a man to save her.

Zegler emphasized that her character aims to be a leader rather than just dreaming of love. Sounds progressive? Yes. However, fans didn't appreciate it: many saw it as a slap in the face to the original story.
Actress Rachel Zegler in a white dress against a blue background
Rachel Zegler
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In the comments under any video featuring Zegler, there are thousands of outraged voices. People come for nostalgia but get a lecture on feminism. It's no surprise that the film's anticipation rating on IMDb plummeted even before its premiere.

On-set Politics: How Actresses' Views Divided the Team

The political views of the lead actresses added fuel to the fire. Rachel Zegler openly expressed support for Palestine, whereas Gal Gadot, who played the Evil Queen, is known for her pro-Israel stance. These differences led to tension on set and sparked calls to boycott the film from both sides of the conflict.
Rachel Zegler in light attire and Gal Gadot in black stand against a blue background and laugh
Rachel Zegler and Gal Gadot
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Gal Gadot Steals the Show

One of the most discussed paradoxes of the film is the visual mismatch between the main heroine and the villainess. In the storyline, the Evil Queen envies Snow White's beauty and is willing to do anything to get rid of her.

However, in Disney's adaptation, the role of the queen is played by —an actress with a model-like appearance and recognized as "one of the most beautiful women in the world" by many glossy magazines. Against this backdrop, Rachel Zegler, though talented, loses in the classic visual comparison.
Gal Gadot as the Evil Queen in a black shiny outfit and a black crown
Gal Gadot
Viewers widely questioned: "Why would Snow White be the target of envy when the queen embodies the ideal?" Social media was flooded with jokes and memes, ironically commenting on the "mirror that clearly lies." Some felt that such casting choices undermined the story's logic.

Snow White and Racial Identity: Why It Didn't Work Like The Little Mermaid

The casting of Rachel Zegler, an actress of Colombian descent, as Snow White has sparked strong controversy, unlike the similar decision with Halle Bailey as "The Little Mermaid." While Disney's decision for Ariel was supported, for Snow White it became contentious.

"The film cleverly addresses this issue by explaining that she was named not for her pale skin, but because of a snowstorm on the night of her birth," sarcastically notes film critic Nell Minow.
Snow White Official Trailer
Despite all the debates, the film still found its audience. Some viewers appreciated the attempt to rethink the classic story and introduce modern themes.

What do you think? Should classic fairy tales be reimagined in a new way, or is it better to leave them in their original form? Share your thoughts in the comments!