Disney fairy tale turns into a real world nightmare
Forget the magic mirror and the singing birds because the real story on the set of Disney’s live-action Snow White is a total frost fest. We are hearing from multiple insiders that lead stars Gal Gadot and Rachel Zegler are living in two completely different universes. While the studio is trying to spin a story of sisterhood and professional respect, our sources say the vibe behind the curtain is colder than a winter in the Enchanted Forest.
The -year-old Wonder Woman icon and the -year-old newcomer reportedly have nothing in common. We are talking about a massive age gap that has made bonding on set virtually impossible. Gal is a mother of four with years of Hollywood experience under her belt, while Rachel is still navigating the early days of her career. One source bluntly told us that outside of their call times, these two have zero reason to speak to each other. It is not exactly the fairy tale friendship Disney was hoping to market to the masses.
Reps for both stars have been radio silent, which in Hollywood usually means there is plenty of smoke where there is fire. With the Los Angeles premiere at the El Capitan Theater just hours away, the pressure is on to see if they can fake a smile for the paparazzi or if the tension will finally boil over on the red carpet. Disney is reportedly terrified of a viral moment that could sink the movie before it even hits theaters on March .
Political views causing a massive rift on set
If the age gap was not enough, the political divide between these two is enough to cause a total production meltdown. Our insiders are pointing out that their views on the Middle East are polar opposites, and it is creating a serious elephant in the room. Gal Gadot, an Israeli-born star who served in the Israel Defense Forces, has been a vocal advocate for Israeli hostages. Meanwhile, Rachel Zegler has used her social media platform to voice support for Palestine.
This is not just a minor disagreement over a script. This is deeply personal and high-stakes drama that has made the promotional tour a total minefield. While they managed to stand on stage together at the Oscars to present a category, sources say it was a masterclass in professional acting. Behind the scenes, the air was thick with suspicious behavior and avoided eye contact. How can you sell a movie about kindness and harmony when your lead actors cannot even agree on basic world events?
The tension has allegedly reached a point where Gal is annoyed by the constant drama surrounding the project. She reportedly feels that the focus should be on the work, not the headlines. But in today’s climate, you cannot separate the star from the stance, and this clash is casting a massive shadow over the hundred million dollar production. Disney executives are reportedly losing sleep over whether this divide will lead to a box office boycott from either side of the political spectrum.
Gal Gadot fed up with Rachel Zegler’s controversial comments
It is no secret that Rachel Zegler has a habit of putting her foot in her mouth when it comes to the legacy of Snow White. The actress previously made headlines by calling the original dated and suggesting the new version would be a total modernization. Well, word on the street is that Gal Gadot is not a fan of those comments. Gadot reportedly feels that criticizing the project you are paid to lead is a major professional no-no.
A source familiar with Gal’s perspective says her attitude is simple: you sign the contract, you do the work, and you do not cause drama for the studio. Gal apparently just does not get it when it comes to Rachel’s habit of biting the hand that feeds her. This generational clash over how to handle fame and press is a major point of friction. Gal sees herself as a seasoned pro who knows how to play the game, while she views Rachel as a loose cannon who is making their job ten times harder.
Rachel needs to learn when to keep her mouth shut if she wants to stay in this business.
Gal is the ultimate professional and you can tell she is just over the Gen Z attitude.
These fan reactions are just the tip of the iceberg. The internet has been divided since Zegler was cast, and her comments about the original film’s prince being a stalker did not help her case with the Disney traditionalists. Now, with the Evil Queen herself reportedly rolling her eyes at the princess, the marketing team is facing a total uphill battle to keep this project from being labeled a disaster.
Paparazzi watch: The Spain premiere no-show explained
Heads started turning when Gal Gadot was a no-show at the European premiere in Spain on March . Immediately, the rumor mill went into overdrive with fans claiming it was a stay away from me situation between the two stars. While Disney’s spin doctors were quick to claim Gal was never supposed to be in Spain and was busy doing press in New York, the timing was highly suspicious.
In the world of big-budget premieres, you usually want your biggest star front and center. Missing a major international event while your costar handles the press alone is a classic sign of trouble. Our photographers in New York saw Gal looking stressed as she moved between interviews, while Rachel was left to answer questions about the film’s many controversies in Spain. It looked like a coordinated effort to keep the two women in different time zones for as long as possible.
Insiders say the decision to keep them apart was a calculated move by PR teams to prevent any awkward interactions that could be caught on camera. If they aren’t in the same room, they can’t have a visible argument. But that strategy only works for so long. Tomorrow’s Los Angeles premiere is the moment of truth. They will have to walk that red carpet together, and you can bet every camera lens will be zoomed in looking for a shady glance or a forced smile.
Racist backlash and the weight of the crown
Let’s not forget that Rachel Zegler has been dealing with an ugly wave of racist backlash since she was cast in . Being a person of Colombian and Polish descent playing a character traditionally described as having skin white as snow has made her a target for online trolls. According to some reports, percent of social media mentions regarding her casting were negative or featured racially charged language in the first months after the announcement.
This kind of pressure is enough to make anyone defensive, but sources say it has only added to the hostile environment on set. Zegler has had to develop a thick skin, but her way of fighting back has often led to even more controversy. While Gal Gadot has faced her own share of online hate over the years, she reportedly handles it with a quiet dignity that clashes with Rachel’s more vocal and confrontational style. It is two different ways of surviving Hollywood, and they are clashing in a big way.
The studio has tried to defend Zegler, but the damage to the film’s reputation among certain demographics is already done. Some tracking data suggests that interest in the film among traditional Disney fans has dropped by nearly percent compared to previous live-action remakes like Beauty and the Beast. With a budget estimated to be north of million dollars, these numbers are a terrifying reality for the mouse house. They need these two stars to look like a united front, but the cracks are too deep to ignore.
The final countdown to a box office explosion
As we count down to the March release, the question isn’t just whether the movie is good, but whether it can survive its own stars. Gal Gadot is already moving on to her next projects under her production company, Pilot Wave, while Rachel Zegler is banking on this to be the biggest year of her life. But if the audience smells the behind the scenes rot, this could be a historic flop for Disney.
Will they hug it out on the red carpet tomorrow, or will the cold war continue? Sources say the Disney handlers have given both actresses strict talking points to avoid any mention of their differences. But in a live interview, anything can happen. The world is watching to see if the Evil Queen and the Princess can play nice for the cameras, or if the poisoned apple is about to be served to the entire production.
The drama is far from over. Rumors are already swirling that contractual obligations for a sequel are being reviewed, and the results depend entirely on the next two weeks. If the tension is this bad now, imagine what another three months of press will look like. Is this the end of the line for this duo, or just the beginning of a Hollywood feud that will be talked about for decades? We will be at the El Capitan tomorrow to see the sparks fly firsthand. Stay tuned, because the real show hasn’t even started yet.
