Disney’s highly anticipated live-action adaptation of its classic animated film Snow White is set to make its debut on March 21, 2025. Directed by Marc Webb and featuring Rachel Zegler as Snow White and Gal Gadot as the Evil Queen, this reimagining aims to bring fresh perspectives to the beloved tale.
Box office forecasts are already buzzing, with projections from Quorum indicating potential opening weekend earnings ranging from $63 million to $70 million. Other sources estimate around $65 million, making it comparable to the 2014 live-action spinoff of Sleeping Beauty, which debuted at $69.4 million.
Should the film reach the higher end of the forecast, it would mark the highest domestic opening for Zegler, whose previous top performance was $44.6 million with The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes. Audience awareness appears to be particularly strong among women, indicating they will likely lead ticket sales, with women under 35 as the primary demographic followed by women over 35 and men under 35.
Reported by social media analytics firm RelishMix, Snow White has amassed significant traction online, boasting a reach of 279 million followers across various platforms—without yet launching major campaigns on X or Instagram. A noteworthy metric includes one viral TikTok video reaching 9.2 million views, illustrating substantial interest surrounding the film.
The film's development has had its share of controversies. Early production headlines had focused on Zegler’s candid comments about the original 1937 film, alongside criticism from actor Peter Dinklage, who labeled the adaptation process as “backwards” during a podcast on Marc Maron’s show. Disney responded to concerns about potential stereotypes by ensuring they consulted with members of the dwarfism community to rework the seven dwarfs' roles.
Disney’s first announcement of the live-action remake came back in October 2016, setting the stage for years of eager anticipation. Marketing efforts intensified with the release of the film's first teaser trailer in August 2024 and the full trailer following on December 3, 2024.
Alongside Zegler and Gadot, the film's cast includes Andrew Burnap as Jonathan, Snow White's ally; Ansu Kabia as the Huntsman, who helps Snow White understand the threat posed by the Evil Queen; and Emilia Faucher, who portrays young Snow White. The live-action adaptation promises to offer new characters and narratives, diverging from the classic version.
Gal Gadot's casting as the Evil Queen is particularly notable; her character is driven by vanity and jealousy, resorting to devious measures such as attempting to poison Snow White. Gadot, recognized for her iconic role as Wonder Woman, has played various strong female characters, making her portrayal of the antagonist intriguing to audiences.
While the live-action adaptations of Disney's animated classics have had mixed receptions, Snow White is uniquely poised to reignite interest, especially among nostalgic fans of the original. The film's unique updates to traditional characters and story arcs aim to resonate with modern audiences, reflecting current societal values and dialogues.
Disney has experienced considerable success with live-action adaptations, with titles like The Lion King and Beauty and the Beast achieving remarkable box office heights, paving the way for future projects. Captain America: Brave New World, also on Disney’s launch calendar for the upcoming year, is set for significant box office activity following Snow White.
All eyes will be on this live-action feature as its release date approaches, ready to see if it can capture the hearts of both longtime fans and newcomers alike. With its cast's strong performances and Disney's extensive reach, expectations remain high for another successful chapter within the Disney franchise.