Disney’s live-action remake of Snow White, starring Israeli actress Gal Gadot, struggled significantly at the global box office.
Gal Gadot recently spoke candidly about the film’s poor performance. She attributed much of the fallout to the political climate surrounding the Israel-Palestine conflict.
GAL GADOT ON POLITICAL PRESSURES
Gal Gadot expressed her disappointment in a recent interview on Israeli TV. “I was sure this movie was going to be a huge hit.
And then it happened,” referring to the violent attacks on 7 October 2023, which triggered ongoing tensions, according to Page Six.
She explained that after these events, there was enormous pressure on celebrities in Hollywood to publicly oppose Israel.
Gal Gadot remarked, “I can always explain and try to give people in the world context about what’s happening… but in the end, people decide for themselves.”
GAL GADOT AS THE EVIL QUEEN
The film saw Gadot take on the role of the Evil Queen. This was also marked by tension stemming from the political differences between her and co-star Rachel Zegler.
Zegler has been openly supportive of Palestine. Their differing stances reportedly strained their relationship during filming.
Despite the political controversies, Gadot emphasised that she enjoyed working with Zegler and shared, “We laughed, talked, and had fun.”
SNOW WHITE’S BUDGET
“Snow White” carried a massive production budget estimated at around $270 million (approximately R 5.5 billion), but it underperformed drastically.
It grossed only about $207 million worldwide (around R 4.2 billion), failing to meet its break-even targets.
Disney’s expectations for the film were high, but the political tensions, along with criticism over casting choices, contributed to its lacklustre box office returns.
The disappointing results even led Disney to halt production on other planned live-action remakes, including Tangled.
HOW IMPORTANT IS IT FOR FILMS TO STAY POLITICALLY NEUTRAL?
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