As Disney’s live-action Snow White remake starring Rachel Zegler inches closer to its March 21 release, new analysis from That Park Place contributor Vash Sky reveals that the studio is significantly reducing lead actress Rachel Zegler’s presence in promotional materials.
A comparison of the December 3rd trailer and the February 14th trailer shows that Zegler’s screentime was cut by nearly half, a move that appears to reflect Disney’s response to the overwhelming negativity surrounding the film’s troubled star.
Rachel Zegler as Snow White in Snow White (2025), Walt Disney Studios
In the December trailer, which runs 2 minutes and 24 seconds, Zegler was featured for 68 seconds, making up 47.22% of the trailer’s total runtime. However, in the most recent February trailer, which is only 60 seconds long, Zegler’s screentime plummeted to just 17 seconds—28.33% of the total runtime. This marks a 50% reduction in her onscreen presence, signaling that Disney may be attempting to downplay Zegler’s role in its marketing campaign following months of controversy and backlash.
The film has faced relentless criticism from the moment it was announced, with much of the negativity directed at Zegler herself. Her dismissive comments about the original 1937 animated classic, labeling it outdated and misogynistic, alienated many Disney fans. Zegler’s political outbursts, including her inflammatory remarks about Donald Trump and his supporters, have only exacerbated the backlash.
“May Trump supporters and Trump voters and Trump himself never know peace,” she said shortly after the election, igniting a firestorm that forced her to issue a questionable public apology.
A screenshot of Rachel Zegler’s Incendiary tweets about Donald Trump and his supporters – Photo Credit Steph Anie, @MyNerdyHome Via X
The avalanche of negative sentiment has been reflected in the film’s promotional materials. The first Snow White teaser trailer received 1.5 million dislikes on YouTube compared to just 101,000 likes. The official December trailer earned 9.3 million views but was weighed down by 1.2 million dislikes. Even the Christmas Day sneak peek, which featured Zegler’s original song “Waiting on a Wish,” garnered only 296,000 views with 50,000 dislikes, making it the least viewed piece of promotional content for the film.
Adding to the controversy is Disney’s handling of the Seven Dwarfs. The studio’s initial decision to cast a diverse group of non-dwarf actors—reportedly in response to Peter Dinklage’s criticism—was met with backlash, forcing Disney to pivot to CGI dwarfs that have been widely panned for their poor visual quality. The production’s multiple reshoots have ballooned its budget to an estimated $300 million, and with box office projections suggesting a modest $63-$70 million opening weekend, the financial outlook for Snow White looks grim.
Rachel Zegler as Snow White in Snow White (2025), Walt Disney Studios
Rachel Zegler’s declining presence in the trailers could be Disney’s attempt to mitigate further backlash, but the damage may already be done. With massive dislike ratios, growing audience apathy, and a ballooning budget, Snow White appears headed for a box office disaster—one that even reduced screentime for its controversial star may not be able to prevent.
Do you think Disney is trying to downplay Rachel Zegler and her role in Snow White? Sound off in the comments below and let us know!
