"I thought personally was just how to block out the inevitable comparison" - When Rachel Zegler spoke out about Snow White casting expectations

Rachel Zegler and the new Snow White from Disney have already been the source of a lot of controversy and a lot of discussions, with rumors hinting at a point that Zegler may be removed from the role after her explosive comments. However, the movie is still progressing, and we expect to see her on the screen as the mild-mannered Disney princess Snow White very soon.

Understandably, the remake of Snow White has been such a huge topic of discussion. It's, after all, one of the most prominent Disney productions of all time, engaging generations of fans across the world. And Zegler understood this from the very start.

Back in 2022, when the actress was still fresh from her acclaimed West Side Story stint, she discussed this weight of expectations and the inevitable comparisons that would have come from her portrayal of Snow White in an interview with Elle.

Rachel Zegler had said:

"I felt more of my anonymity go out the window after Snow White was announced, because Disney has such a dedicated following ... I had to step into these iconic shoes ... The first thing I thought personally was just how to block out the inevitable comparison that would come between myself and Natalie Wood, and myself and a literal two-dimensional cartoon that everyone and their mother seemed to care about the second they announced that I was in the movie."

She added:

"Snow White was this incredible piece of art, hailed as this triumph for animation, and put Disney on the map in such a huge way."

There was always a certain amount of backlash that Zegler faced since the announcement because of her heritage. Her comments about the changes in the new Snow White didn't help the case either.

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"What does fair mean?" - Rachel Zegler on breaking the stereotypes with the new Snow White

Snow White is a story that has been around for many, many decades. Things and people have changed since then, and so have thoughts and standards of beauty. Zegler being in the shoes of Snow White may not be the most straightforward approach to the story, but it still is one that may make things more interesting for the movie adaptation.

Rachel Zegler also delved into this in the same interview and explained how director Marc Webb visualized this classic fairytale and ultimately convinced Zegler to put a fascinating twist on the same.

Zegler recalled that she didn't even know what movie they were talking about when Webb started explaining this mysterious project. It only came out in their conversation about the character. Rachel Zegler said:

"We had a very straightforward conversation before I’d even realized that [the movie] was Snow White. When I started to put the pieces together and I knew it was a Disney princess thing, he was like, ‘Who’s the fairest of them all: What does fair mean? What does it have to mean? Does it mean skin tone? Does it mean beauty? Or does it mean whether or not you are just? The way you treat people? The way you approach others with kindness or lack thereof?’"

Yet, Rachel Zegler also added that she felt like this character was a healing process for her and a treat for her inner child. Of course, things haven't been any less controversial since then, and it seems inevitable that another round of backlash will follow once the movie releases.

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Snow White is set to premiere in theatres on March 21, 2024.