Rachel Zegler didn’t get a Hollywood premiere for her new movie Snow White last week, but the actress has been praised for making sure the VIP guests at a ‘secret’ screening had a day to remember.
Last week Disney bosses raised eyebrows by holding a ‘secret’ screening for the live action remake of Snow White in Spain where global press were shut out.
Rather than the usual list of major news outlets flocking to the scene, local Spanish influencers and families from the small city of Segovia, which boasts a population of just 51,000, were among the chosen ‘VIPs’ in attendance.
Among the guests was popular Welsh influencer Liana Jade and her son Koazy, two, who were flown out to Spain to meet Rachel and watch the movie.
Liana, who boasts an incredible 9.5 million TikTok fans, 1.7million followers on Instagram and 3.73 million YouTube followers, documented the trip on social media, including the moment her excited toddler met ‘real life princess’ Rachel.
Rachel shocked Liana and her husband Connor at the meet and greet when she immediately recognised Koazy, telling them she had watched their videos and sweetly telling the little boy: ‘you are so well spoken young man.’
Rachel Zegler didn’t get her Hollywood premiere for Snow White last week, but the actress has been praised for making sure the VIP guests at a ‘secret’ screening had a day to remember
Last week Disney raised eyebrows by holding a ‘secret’ screening for the remake in Spain. Among the guests was popular Welsh influencer Liana Jade and her son Koazy, two
Fans in the comments gushed about Rachel’s natural rapport with Koazy as she crouched down in her glam dress to chat to him about his favourite toys and his outfit.
The sweet meet and greet ended with the actress signing an apple for Koazy, turning it into ‘a magic apple.’
‘She was so sweet with him & quite sincere,’ one fan gushed in the comments. ‘I love how she got down to his level and gave him her full attention,’ agreed another.
The first reviews of the new Snow White film were released on Sunday – as controversy over the Disney remake rumbles on.
Following a series of scandals and PR nightmares that have beset the project, Disney have scaled back the planned lavish premieres for the movie to a ‘handful’ of тιԍнтly controlled press events.
The film has previously been branded woke over fears it has prioritised its messaging over authentic storytelling – while it is claimed there is a feud between the two leading actresses Rachel and Gal Gadot.
A large scale premiere had been expected to take place at Leicester Square in London, but an insider informed DailyMail.com earlier this month that a decision was made to not hold one for the upcoming movie.
Liana, who boasts an incredible 9.5 million TikTok fans, documented the trip on social media, including the moment her excited toddler met ‘real life princess’ Rachel
Fans in the comments gushed about Rachel’s natural rapport with Koazy as she crouched down in her glam dress to chat to him about his favourite toys and his outfit
But despite the drama behind the scenes the early reviews for the film were glowingly positive, with both Rachel and Gal receiving praise.
Writing on Twitter, Variety’s film reporter Katcy Stephan penned: ‘Rachel Zegler is a shining supernova in #SnowWhite, beautifully embodying the graceful, gentle nature of the OG Disney princess.
‘It’s a visual feast with show-stopping new musical numbers and, of course, dozens of enchanting animated animals. The screenplay wisely gives its heroine newfound depth through her fervent desire to become the leader her father believed she could be, and a love story that’s sweet as apple pie.’
Crooked Media’s Matt DeGroot was similarly positive, writing: ‘Despite becoming an internet punching bag Disney’s remake of Snow White is actually mostly successful!
‘Rachel Zegler is an absolute star, (most of) the new songs are catchy and beautifully performed, and the visual palette is sumptuous and vibrant. Gal Gadot had beautiful gowns.’
Following a series of scandals and PR nightmares that have beset the project, Disney have scaled back the planned lavish premieres for the movie to a ‘handful’ of controlled press events
Screen Rant host Ash Crossan added on their social media: ‘Despite the bob being all over the place, #SnowWhite is quite charming!
‘The message lands well, the critters are adorable, and Rachel Zegler and her enchanting voice are stunning. It almost got a full tear out of me, and I’ve never cried in my entire life.’
The DisInsider’s Skyler Shuler agreed, writing on Twitter: ‘Listen, I was worried, but let me tell you Snow White is PURE DISNEY MAGIC!
‘This will end up being a lot of people’s favorite live-action remake.’
On Saturday, stars Rachel and Gal attended the film’s US premiere, but it was a significantly smaller affair than would be expected for a Disney fantasy with a budget of $270 million.
Shining a light on bosses’ attempts to limit the difficult questions star Rachel could face about the film, a select number of pH๏τographers, far smaller than the number expected for a Disney premiere, were invited.
But despite the drama behind the scenes the early reviews for the film were glowingly positive, with both Rachel and Gal receiving praise
On Saturday, stars Rachel and Gal attended the film’s US premiere, but it was a significantly smaller affair than would be expected for a Disney fantasy with a budget of $270 million.(pictured with producer Marc E. Platt)
Noting the number of children that made up the guest list, the screening, held at LA’s El Capitan Theatre, took place at 3:30pm after a pre-party celebration that lasted just 90 minutes, according to Variety.
When asked by TMZ over the weekend how she feels now that Snow White is finally about to hit theaters, Rachel answered, ‘It feels wonderful, thank you,’ but failed to comment on backlash surrounding the film.
It has also been rumored that there is a ‘feud’ behind-the-scenes with Rachel and Gal over their contrasting views on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
A source recently told People that the two stars ‘have nothing in common’ and added, ‘On top of that, their political views differ, adding to the tension.’
Disney’s choice comes following criticism and fears that the remake prioritized ‘woke’ messaging over authentic storytelling.
Notably, the remake has dumped the traditional romance plot because of ‘Sєxism’ and reimagined the Seven Dwarfs as a diverse group of ‘magical creatures’.
The premiere is the latest scaled-back event from bosses to promote the film, days after raising eyebrows by holding a ‘secret’ screening in Spain where global press were shut out
Zegler herself has also criticized David Hand’s 1937 original animated film as ‘extremely dated when it comes to the ideas of women being in roles of power and what a woman’s fit for in the world’.
‘The original cartoon came out in 1937, and very evidently so,’ she told Extra TV in 2022.
‘There’s a big focus on her love story with a guy who literally stalks her. Weird. So we didn’t do that this time.
‘We have a different approach to what I’m sure a lot of people will ᴀssume is a love story just because we cast a guy in the movie.’
‘All of Andrew’s scenes could get cut, who knows? It’s Hollywood, baby!’ she joked.
About the 1937 film, she added: ‘I was scared of the original version. I think I watched it once and never picked it up again. I’m being so serious.’
Zegler also told Variety that her version of Snow White would be dreaming about becoming a ‘fearless leader’ rather than ‘dreaming about true love’.
