Everyone has an opinion on who plays Snow White these days. Seriously. You can’t scroll through a feed without seeing a heated debate about Rachel Zegler, blue-and-yellow dresses, or CGI dwarfs. It's wild how a character created in the 1930s can still set the internet on fire in 2026.
But here’s the thing.
The story of who brings this character to life is way bigger than just one actress or one upcoming movie. It’s a legacy that stretches back nearly a century, involving secret voice recordings, tragic career ends, and now, a multi-million dollar gamble by Disney. If you're looking for the short answer, Rachel Zegler is the face of the 2025 live-action remake. But if you want the real story? It’s complicated.
Rachel Zegler and the Modern Mirror
When Disney announced that Rachel Zegler would be the one who plays Snow White in their high-stakes live-action reimagining, the reaction was… loud. Zegler wasn't a stranger to the spotlight, having already wowed people in Steven Spielberg’s West Side Story. She has the pipes. There’s no denying that.
However, the backlash wasn't really about her talent. It was about the "look."
For decades, the "skin as white as snow" line was taken literally. Casting a Latina actress signaled a massive shift in how Disney views its "fairest of them all." Zegler herself hasn't shied away from the conversation, often noting in interviews that the original 1937 film is, well, dated. She’s famously called the Prince a "stalker" in some interviews, which, honestly, didn't sit well with the traditionalist crowd.
The movie has faced delays. It was originally supposed to drop much sooner, but between the SAG-AFTRA strikes and a massive pivot in how they handled the "seven companions," the release date got pushed to March 21, 2025. This isn't just a movie anymore; it’s a litmus test for Disney’s modern brand.
The CGI Controversy
Wait, we have to talk about the "dwarfs." Early set photos leaked showing a group of diverse actors of various heights, and people lost it. The internet dubbed them the "magical creatures." Eventually, Disney pivoted back to a more traditional look—sorta. The teaser trailers now show Zegler interacting with CGI characters that look remarkably like the 1937 designs.
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Is it a win for fans? Or an uncanny valley nightmare? We'll see.
The Voice That Started It All: Adriana Caselotti
You can't talk about who plays Snow White without talking about the woman who was essentially "erased" by Walt Disney himself.
In 1935, Adriana Caselotti was just an 18-year-old girl looking for a break. Her father was a music teacher, and when a casting scout called his studio looking for a "girl's voice," Adriana jumped on the extension. She got the part. She was paid $970 for her work.
That sounds like a decent chunk of change for the 30s, but here’s the kicker: Walt Disney wanted to own that voice. He didn't want her appearing in other films because it would "break the illusion" of Snow White. She was blacklisted from major Hollywood roles. Even when she had a tiny, uncredited bit in The Wizard of Oz—she’s the voice saying "Wherefore art thou, Romeo?" during the Tin Man’s song—her name stayed off the screen.
Caselotti spent the rest of her life as the "living" Snow White, appearing at theme park openings and signing autographs. It’s a bit of a tragic Hollywood tale, really. She was the first, and in many ways, she’s still the definitive version.
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Gal Gadot as the Counterpoint
While we focus on the protagonist, the person who plays Snow White is only as good as their foil. Enter Gal Gadot.
Choosing Wonder Woman to play the Evil Queen was a stroke of genius. It changes the dynamic entirely. In the original, the Queen is just… old and jealous. In the 2025 version, you have two powerhouses on screen. Gadot has mentioned that she loved playing "deliciously evil," and honestly, seeing her go toe-to-toe with Zegler is probably the biggest selling point for the skeptical fans.
Not Just Disney: The Other Snow Whites
Most people forget that Disney doesn't own the fairy tale. It’s a Brothers Grimm story, which means it’s public domain. Because of that, several other actresses have stepped into the slippers over the years.
- Kristen Stewart (Snow White and the Huntsman): This was the "gritty" reboot era. Stewart played a warrior version of the princess. It was dark, muddy, and featured Chris Hemsworth. It worked for what it was, but it definitely wasn't a musical.
- Lily Collins (Mirror Mirror): This came out almost at the same time as Stewart’s version. It was much more whimsical and colorful. Collins had the look—the eyebrows, the porcelain skin—and it felt much closer to a storybook.
- Ginnifer Goodwin (Once Upon a Time): For a whole generation of TV viewers, Ginnifer is Snow White. She played Mary Margaret Blanchard, a schoolteacher who was secretly a badass princess. Her chemistry with Josh Dallas (Prince Charming) was so real they actually got married in real life.
Why the Casting Matters in 2026
The reason people care so much about who plays Snow White is because she represents the "Patient Zero" of the Disney Princess franchise. If you mess up Snow White, you mess up the foundation.
Some argue that by changing the character's ethnicity or her motivations (making her a "leader" instead of a dreamer), Disney is destroying the source material. Others argue that the source material was already a 19th-century German story that Disney changed in 1937, so why not change it again?
The 2025 film is directed by Marc Webb (The Amazing Spider-Man), with a script co-written by Greta Gerwig. Yeah, that Greta Gerwig. The Barbie director. That alone suggests the film will have a lot more to say about womanhood than the original did.
The Technical Side of the Performance
Zegler isn't just acting against air. The technology used in the new film is a hybrid of what we saw in The Lion King and The Little Mermaid.
When you ask who plays Snow White, you’re also asking who can act in a green-screen box while singing live. Zegler’s theatrical background is huge here. Unlike some actors who struggle with the technical demands of CGI-heavy sets, her experience in live theater allows her to project that "princess energy" even when she’s staring at a tennis ball on a stick.
What to Watch Before the Remake
If you want to be a total expert on this casting lineage, you've got to do your homework. Don't just watch the trailers.
- Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937): Obviously. Watch it for Caselotti’s operatic voice.
- West Side Story (2021): Watch this to understand why Zegler got the job. Her "Maria" is essentially a trial run for a Disney princess.
- The 10th Kingdom: It's an old miniseries, but it features a very different take on the Snow White legacy that is worth a look.
Moving Forward: How to Track the Release
The conversation around who plays Snow White isn't going to die down anytime soon. In fact, expect it to ramp up as the March 2025 release date approaches.
To stay ahead of the curve, keep an eye on the official Disney "D23" announcements. There’s often leaked footage or behind-the-scenes clips that give a better sense of Zegler’s performance than the highly polished trailers. Also, check out the soundtrack previews. Pasek and Paul (the duo behind The Greatest Showman) wrote new songs for this version, and the music usually tells you more about the character's direction than the script does.
The biggest takeaway? Snow White isn't a static character. She’s a vessel for whatever era she’s in. In 1937, she was a symbol of domesticity and hope during the Depression. In 2025, she’s becoming a symbol of agency and modern identity. Whether you love the change or hate it, Rachel Zegler is officially part of cinematic history.
Follow the production updates on trade sites like Variety or The Hollywood Reporter to see if any further "creative adjustments" are made before the premiere. If you're interested in the music, keep an ear out for the first single release, which usually drops about three months before the movie. That will be the real test of whether Zegler's version can capture the magic of the original.
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Actionable Next Steps:
- Watch the 1937 original on Disney+ to refresh your memory on the specific vocal cues Rachel Zegler is likely to reinterpret.
- Search for the "Snow White 2025 Teaser" on YouTube to see the CGI dwarfs in action; it’s the most debated part of the visual design.
- Follow Rachel Zegler on social media if you want to see her "behind the scenes" responses to the casting discourse—she’s very active and often addresses fans directly.
- Keep an eye on the March 2025 box office; the success or failure of this casting will dictate how Disney handles their next live-action remakes, like Hercules or The Hunchback of Notre Dame.