Rachel Zegler is stepping into the glass slippers—wait, wrong Disney princess. Let’s try that again: Rachel Zegler is stepping into the…um, snow boots (?) of Snow White in Disney’s upcoming live-action movie! Yep, she’s taking on the iconic character, but this isn’t your grandma’s Snow White. Oh no, this one’s got more plot twists than a soap opera marathon!
In a recent chat with Variety, Rachel spilled the tea about how this version is like a high-tech reboot of your favorite 1937 classic, minus the dude who casually creeps around in the woods. Yeah, we’re looking at you, Prince Charming. “Creepy stalker vibes? No thanks!” Rachel basically said, and honestly, we’re not mad about it.
Now, of course, the internet (in its usual state of calm and rational thought—LOL, just kidding) had a LOT to say when Rachel was cast. Apparently, some people were pressed because Snow White is traditionally… well, super pale, and Rachel’s background is Colombian. Cue the internet warriors! But don’t worry, Disney’s got this covered: in the new version, Snow White doesn’t get her name from her skin tone; nope, she survived a blizzard as a baby. Yep, the girl basically fought a snowstorm and lived to tell the tale. Talk about a glow-up!
“The king and queen were like, ‘Wow, this baby’s a fighter, let’s name her Snow White to remind her how hardcore she is!’” Rachel explained. It’s all about resilience, people. That’s the new Snow White vibe: less “singing to birds about love” and more “I survived a snowstorm, I’m a boss.”
Speaking of love, Rachel made waves (and maybe some tsunamis) in August 2023 when she revealed that Snow White isn’t sitting around waiting for a prince to sweep her off her feet like she’s in some medieval dating app. Nope, this Snow is all about becoming the strong, independent leader she knows she can be! #GirlBoss
Rachel was quick to point out just how “1937” the original cartoon was, with its plot centered on some random guy popping out of the bushes to woo Snow. Um, yeah, let’s not. “Weird! Weird!” she laughed in the interview, and we totally agree. So, the new film? Less stalker prince, more Snow leveling up her leadership skills. Maybe she’ll run for office next.
But let’s not twist things—there’s still some romance! Rachel’s comments about axing the love story got blown up like an overinflated balloon animal. She said that while love isn’t Snow’s only goal, the love story’s still there. It’s just that, you know, maybe falling for a guy who spies on you while you nap isn’t the pinnacle of romance. (Pro tip: If he sneaks into your cottage uninvited, swipe left.)
Of course, with great casting comes great internet backlash. Rachel admitted that the online haters bummed her out. “It made me sad,” she confessed, because apparently, saying women can have careers AND love is controversial now? Who knew? “I just believe women can do anything—and everything!” she added, like the feminist superhero we didn’t know we needed.
Rachel also gave us a sneak peek into some behind-the-scenes drama: picking a favorite dwarf. You’d think this would be easy, but apparently, it’s like choosing your favorite Taylor Swift album. (Impossible. Just impossible.) But if you must know, she has a special bond with Dopey. Because who wouldn’t love the dwarf with zero dialogue and 100% good vibes?
Wrapping up the movie was an emotional rollercoaster for Rachel. After three years working on this project, she described it like saying goodbye to a family member. But don’t worry, because when you finally see this movie, you’ll feel all the love, snowstorms, and Dopey-level adorableness pouring off the screen.
Mark your calendars, because Snow White is set to hit theaters on March 21, 2025. Will there be a prince? Sure. Will Snow White need him? Nope.
