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Fact check: Rachel Zegler is unlikely to be asked to star in any large budget films any time soon following the disastrous opening weekend for Snow White. This has nothing to do with her acting ability, which has received some praise in the film, but her public statements which turned off large portions of Disney's target audience.

Checked on March 26, 2025

1. Summary of the results

The statement's core premise about Rachel Zegler's future career prospects appears to have some merit, but requires important context. Snow White's box office performance has indeed been challenging, earning $87.3 million overall ($43 million domestically) against a $270 million production cost [1]. This is notably lower than comparable Disney remakes like The Little Mermaid, which earned $95 million in its opening weekend [2].

2. Missing context/alternative viewpoints

Several crucial contextual elements are missing from the original statement:

  • Multiple Controversies: The situation extends beyond just Zegler's comments about the original film. She faced backlash for:
  • Political statements about Palestine [3] [4]
  • Criticism of the original Snow White film [5]
  • General casting controversy [6]
  • Studio Response: Disney executives have actively tried to manage Zegler's public statements [5], suggesting institutional concern about the situation.
  • Broader Industry Context: The film faced reduced media coverage and scaled-back promotional events [6], indicating that factors beyond Zegler's control may have impacted the film's reception.

3. Potential misinformation/bias in the original statement

The original statement oversimplifies several aspects:

  • Acting Ability Focus: While the statement acknowledges positive reception of Zegler's acting, it oversimplifies the controversy by attributing it solely to her public statements. The sources indicate a more complex situation involving multiple factors, including political tensions between cast members [6] and broader cultural debates about the film's modernization [1].
  • Career Impact: The statement makes a definitive prediction about Zegler's future prospects, while sources suggest her career complications are part of a broader context of "external controversies beyond her control" [3].
  • Target Audience: While the statement suggests Zegler alienated Disney's target audience, it's worth noting that she has maintained a positive stance about her role despite criticism [7], indicating potential support from different audience segments.

Those benefiting from pushing various narratives include:

  • Traditional Disney fans and conservatives (maintaining classic interpretations)
  • Progressive activists (supporting modernization efforts)
  • Competing studios (potentially capitalizing on Disney's controversy)
  • Media outlets (generating engagement from ongoing controversy)
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