In the land of dreams and fairy tales, one must wonder what Disney was thinking when they cast Rachel Zegler as their newest Snow White. When you’re a movie company that thrives on ticket sales, it seems like a bold move to cast someone whose political opinions can polarize viewers. Yet, here we are, watching as ticket sales for the upcoming Snow White remake appear less like a box office hit and more like a slow trickle. Judging by pre-ticket sales, it seems like many folks have decided their business wasn’t needed.
Disney’s decision to let Rachel Zegler dream and scheme on social media with her political opinions has certainly steered their ship into murky waters. Her boisterous advocacy for voting blue, paired with some less-than-flattering comments about those who haven’t, is making one wonder if the costume department should have swapped her princess dress for something with stripes. Now, Disney finds itself hosting a movie premiere with all the bells and whistles of a high school drama rather than the glitzy galas they’re known for. With actors trying to distance themselves from this unfolding drama, the company is grasping for solutions, careful not to let their princess speak on camera.
If you think the drama ends there, you’d be wrong. While everyone is free to have their opinions, it seems there is concern about whether the premiere overshadowed all the hard work that went into the movie. It’s quite fittingly like trying to enjoy a picnic in a hailstorm. Disney faced backlash after reimagining the seven dwarfs into computer-generated magical creatures, which has many questioning the direction this wagon is being pulled.
Amidst all the chaos, Disney’s strategy for damage control looks like something straight out of a slapstick comedy. They’re hosting press events in Europe, apparently hoping these strategies can prevent any more controversy from reaching their shores. The movie now rides on a wave of influencers, supposedly insulating Zegler from her own outspoken ways. Gone are the red carpets and flashing lights; in comes a quieter parade of photographers, capturing what hope remains for this colossal film endeavor.
In a world of dreams where imagination runs wild, it’s quite a somber sight to see a princess standing by herself in the vastness, with metaphorical crickets chirping in the background. Disney wanted to make a statement with this new Snow White, but perhaps they should have focused more on enchanting audiences rather than diving into the rabbit hole of mixed-up politics. As they try to navigate these troubled waters, one might say this is what happens when a fairy tale becomes a cautionary tale.
