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Rachel Zegler’s Journey to Becoming Disney’s Snow White
Rachel Zegler is gearing up to enchant audiences this weekend as she steps into the role of Snow White in Disney’s highly anticipated live-action remake. Her casting was significantly influenced by none other than Oscar-winning director Steven Spielberg, who recommended her to Disney and director Marc Webb after witnessing her performance in his 2021 adaptation of West Side Story. Zegler shares the screen with Gal Gadot, who portrays the Evil Queen. Nonetheless, early projections suggest that the film may see an opening weekend revenue of only $48–58 million, which is considerably lower than its $250 million production budget.
During her recent appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live!, Zegler disclosed the pivotal role Spielberg played in her casting. She disclosed that he sent a text to her that hinted at her obtaining the part before Disney announced it. “I wished him a Happy Father’s Day, as one does, and he texted me a bunch of apple emojis as a response,” she recounted. This playful exchange seemed to symbolize Spielberg’s unorthodox way of sharing the good news, likening it to cryptic messages often associated with artists like Taylor Swift.
Rachel Zegler Had No Idea She Was Auditioning for ‘Snow White’
Although Zegler received high praise from Spielberg, she still navigated through the audition process like other hopefuls. Disney’s secretive nature surrounding the project meant that Zegler approached her audition with limited information. She humorously recounted to Kimmel, “You have no idea what you’re reading,” explaining that the script was labeled as “Untitled Disney Live-Action Film” and featured fictional names. It wasn’t until her first read with Webb that she realized she was auditioning for the beloved role associated with the classic fairy tale: “He let it slip that I was actually conversing with Dopey, and in the back of my head I went, ‘Ohh-kay.’”
Zegler’s journey to this iconic role began when she was relatively unknown. Her audition for West Side Story in 2018 came after performing in numerous high school musicals and developing a following through her YouTube channel. Spielberg recognized her talent, leading to her extraordinary debut as Maria. Since then, she has also appeared in films like Shazam! Fury of the Gods and The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes, ultimately culminating in her portrayal of Snow White.
With Spielberg’s endorsement and her evident talent, Zegler’s casting seems well-deserved. The film is set to hit theaters across the nation on March 21, 2025, and many are eager to see if she can captivate audiences in the way the character has enchanted viewers for generations.
Source: Jimmy Kimmel Live/Instagram
Release Date: March 19, 2025
Director: Marc Webb
Producers: Callum McDougall, Marc Platt
Source
movieweb.com