Even before its release, Disney’s live-action Snow White was entrenched in controversy, drawing criticism from various quarters. Pedro Pascal has recently entered the discussion, expressing his solidarity with Rachel Zegler amid the film’s ongoing challenges.
The contention surrounding Snow White originated with the casting of Rachel Zegler. The Latina actress’s selection surprised many who anticipated a fair-skinned portrayal of Snow White. Zegler faced backlash not only for her casting but also for comments about the 1937 animated original. As the film grapples with box office underperformance, Pedro Pascal demonstrated his support for Zegler by posting on Instagram.
Despite high expectations, Disney’s Snow White is struggling to captivate audiences, continuing its lackluster box office performance. Renowned for his candid political expressions via social media, The Last of Us actor, Pedro Pascal, joined the discourse on Zegler by sharing a photo of her on Instagram Stories, captioning it with “#icon.”
This gesture follows a recent Variety article where Zegler suggested that her political stance, particularly her support for Palestine, contributed to the backlash. This claim sparked debate. Actor Melissa Barrera, who herself was reportedly dismissed from the Scream franchise reboot for similar reasons, voiced her support for Zegler, criticizing the Variety article as a “hit piece.”
However, not all responses to Zegler’s comments have been positive. Following the Variety publication, Marc Platt, a critically acclaimed producer, reportedly traveled to New York to dissuade Zegler from retracting her support statement for Palestine. His son, Jonah Platt, harshly criticized Zegler in a since-deleted post, attributing the film’s financial decline to her actions.
Jonah Platt accused Zegler of dragging personal politics into a professional space, stressing the importance of “adult responsibility and accountability.” He argued that her behavior negatively impacted the film’s performance and criticized what he described as her “narcissism” and “immature desires,” which he claimed jeopardized the cast and crew. He notably did not reference Gal Gadot‘s advocacy for Israel, even as Disney reportedly increased security for her due to threats.
Marc Platt’s Jewish heritage—his spouse Julie Platt chairs the Jewish Federations of North America, an organization supporting Israel amidst recent conflicts—adds another layer to the conversation.
Snow White aligns with Disney’s trend of reimagining animated classics, joining titles like Cinderella (2015), Beauty and the Beast (2017), and The Little Mermaid (2023). With an estimated budget of $209 million, and reports suggesting figures closer to $350 million, Snow White needs significant earnings for success—between $500 million and $700 million depending on accurate budget estimates.
To date, Snow White has grossed $143.1 million across its first two weekends, experiencing a dramatic dip in its second week and relinquishing the top-grossing position to Jason Statham’s A Working Man. Despite being review-bombed, the film earned $66.3 million in the U.S., with better performance internationally. Critical reception remains mixed, with a 41% critic score on Rotten Tomatoes but a more favorable 74% from audiences based on over 1,000 verified reviews.
Snow White continues its theatrical run, amidst these ongoing discussions and box office analyses.
