There’s no denying that Disney’s live-action remakes have sparked their fair share of controversy, but few have stirred the pot as much as Snow White (2025). With its bold approach to the classic fairy tale, Disney’s modern reimagining has drawn both praise and intense criticism.
From the casting choices to the use of CGI dwarves, the remake’s attempts to modernize the beloved story have left many divided. The film’s disappointing box office performance has only added fuel to the fire, prompting unexpected calls for investigations into the production and its financial outcomes.
Related: Disney’s ‘Snow White’ Decimated by Bad Reviews – Who’s To Blame?
On March 21, 2025, Disney released what could be its most controversial live-action remake yet: Snow White. The film stars Rachel Zegler as the iconic princess and Gal Gadot as the Evil Queen. From the beginning, the film was surrounded by significant criticism.
The first wave of backlash came over Zegler’s casting, as some felt that her appearance — as a Colombian and Polish actress — didn’t align with their image of the classic Snow White.
While the casting debate might have been dismissed by some, it wasn’t the only issue that plagued the film. Instead of casting Little People actors to portray the dwarves, Disney opted for CGI, which many fans found jarring. The new dwarves didn’t quite have the same charm as their animated counterparts, and some felt the CGI was distracting, taking away from the immersive quality that Disney films are known for.
Related: “It’s a Joke and They Know It,” Disney Blasted for Changing ‘Snow White’ Release
The controversy didn’t stop there. Rachel Zegler, in particular, seemed to fuel the flames. From the outset, she made it clear that her version of Snow White would differ from the classic. The character was reimagined as more proactive, no longer waiting for things to happen to her, but taking control of her own destiny.
Zegler also stirred up further debate when she stated that Snow White didn’t even need a prince, a departure from the traditional fairy tale that didn’t sit well with some fans.
To add to the tension, Zegler became embroiled in a political controversy related to the Israel-Palestinian conflict. As Zegler publicly expressed her support for the Palestinian people, she found herself at odds with co-star Gal Gadot, who is Israeli. The divide between the two actresses made headlines, with some fans finding it difficult to separate the personal from the professional.
Unfortunately for Disney, these controversies, combined with a lackluster box office performance, contributed to the film’s struggle to find success. Snow White opened to only $42 million at the domestic box office, with its earnings dropping by more than 50% the following weekend. With a production cost of around $250 million, the film needed to make significantly more to break even, making the future of the live-action remake series uncertain.
As the fallout from Snow White continues, one well-known podcaster has weighed in with an unexpected demand.
Joe Rogan, the host of The Joe Rogan Experience, recently expressed his displeasure with the movie’s financial missteps and called for a federal investigation into the money spent on Snow White.
In a recent episode of his podcast, Rogan had this to say about Disney’s remake:
“Wait, how much did this cost? They should get DOGE to look at this movie. They spent $250 million bucks making that movie?”
“Imagine you spent $250 million, and you get some young girl, and you don’t kind of talk to her about like, ‘Hey, you know, don’t get political. You’re young, and I know you have opinions about things, but this should just be about the movie.’”
It’s worth noting that Snow White producer Marc Platt did reportedly fly out to meet with Zegler to discuss the politically charged comments she was making. Still, the damage to the film’s reputation had already been done, and the box office results spoke for themselves.
While Rogan might think it appropriate for Elon Musk and DOGE to investigate the production’s spending, the reality is that such an investigation is unlikely. For one, the money spent on the film is fairly typical for a large-scale production in the same genre, and the film’s budget aligns with other high-profile remakes.
Furthermore, DOGE stands for the Department of Government Efficiency, which focuses on investigating government waste. It’s an agency that would have no jurisdiction over Disney’s private finances, as the company is not a part of the U.S. government.
The effects of Snow White’s disappointing box office performance are reverberating in unexpected ways within Disney. It was recently reported that Disney has put the brakes on its live-action remake of Tangled (2010), citing the failure of Snow White as a contributing factor to their hesitancy in moving forward with more live-action princess remakes.
So, what do you think of Joe Rogan’s comments? Is it appropriate for the Snow White production costs to be investigated, or is it time to move on? Should Disney rethink its strategy for live-action princess films, or are the controversies surrounding Snow White a one-off? Share your thoughts in the comments below and join the conversation!
Disney is not a government owned business and does not need a federal investigation over a movie flop. People make bad choices all the time and they move on and learn from it. I did not find Mr. Rogen humourous in the least.
Disney needs to get back to Walt Disney dreams and imagination. Not this trying to please all peoples opinions and trying to be politically correct. They obviously have bombed at the movies at the theme parks and in merchandise. So get back to walts dreams!
it’s very evident Disney has not learned from their mistakes. They continue to make them while losing millions. Disney stockholders need to clean house or the losses will continue.
Don’t think it’s any of his business. I found Rachel refreshing and I think a lot of what she said was valid and some of what she said was a joke. I think Disney should have went with .little people if 7 came forward for the parts they couldn’t have been offended like a certain small actor said they would be. He might have felt offended if he had been offered a part he might feel he’s too important now,but others haven’t had this chance it might have been there been their break through.Rachel is very talented , beautiful and lovely singer. The other actor she couldn’t be said to have a could voice it as the was evil you wouldn’t necessary expect her to sing like an angel. The people who have been totally overreacting and positively evil are trying to ruin both Disney and Rachel without even seeing the film.