Gal Gadot is opening up about why she believes Disney’s live-action “Snow White” remake stumbled at the box office.
The Israeli actress and model recently appeared on the Israeli TV program “The A Talks” — a show where guests are interviewed by individuals on the autism spectrum — where she reflected on the film’s performance. As reported by Variety, Gadot suggested that political pressures in Hollywood, particularly surrounding the Israel–Palestine conflict, played a role in the film’s reception.
Gadot first addressed rumors of tension with her co-star Rachel Zegler. “I have to say, first off, I really enjoyed filming this movie. Really enjoyed it,” she said, before the interviewer interjected, “Especially when it wasn’t with Rachel Zegler.” Gadot pushed back on that suggestion: “I even enjoyed working with Rachel Zegler. We laughed, we talked and had fun. I was sure this movie was going to be a huge hit.”
Referencing the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas attack on Israel, Gadot said:
“This happens a lot in various industries, including Hollywood,” she said. “There’s pressure on celebrities to speak against Israel. And, you know, it happened.”
She continued, “I can always explain and try to give context about what’s happening here. And I always do that. But in the end, people make their own decisions. And I was disappointed that the movie was incredibly affected by all of that and that it didn’t do well at the box office. But that’s how it goes. You win some, you lose some.”
Following the interview, Gadot clarified her comments on Instagram, emphasizing that external pressures weren’t the only reason “Snow White” underperformed, according to Variety.
“I was honored to join an extraordinary interview with inspiring interviewers, whose questions go straight to the heart,” she wrote. “Sometimes we respond to questions from an emotional place. When the film came out, I felt that those who are against Israel criticized me in a very personal, almost visceral way. They saw me first and foremost as an Israeli, not as an actress. That’s the perspective I spoke from when I answered the question.”
Gadot added, “Of course, the film didn’t fail solely because of external pressures. There are many factors that determine why a film succeeds or fails, and success is never guaranteed.”
Gadot’s co-star Zegler faced controversy during the film’s promotion. While thanking fans for the movie’s trailer views on X, Zegler ended her post with “and always remember, free palestine.”
The comment sparked backlash, leading producer Marc Platt to meet with her in New York. His son, Jonah, later called Zegler’s remarks “immature” and suggested they hurt the film’s reception, according to The Guardian.
“Snow White” had already drawn criticism in 2021 when Zegler, who is of Colombian descent, was cast as Snow White, famously known as the princess with skin “as white as snow,” per The Hollywood Reporter.
How did ‘Snow White’ do in the box office?
In its domestic box-office debut, “Snow White” earned $42 million, according to Box Office Mojo. During its time in theaters, the film earned just over $205.6 million worldwide, with 57% of those earnings coming from the international box office.