Gal Gadot is opening up on why Disney’s live-action “Snow White” remake underperformed at the box office.
During a recent appearance on the Israeli TV program “The A Talks,” in which guests are interviewed by individuals on the autism spectrum, Gadot blamed the failure of Disney's live-action remake was partially due to the "pressure on celebrities to speak out against Israel" amid the ongoing conflict with Palestine.
The remake, in which Gadot played the role of the Evil Queen, tanked at the box office and was poorly received by critics. It grossed a mere $205.7 million worldwide, failing to make back its huge production budget, and garnered an average 38% rating on the Rotten Tomatoes site.
Critics highlighted its bland production choices, uneven tone, and hit-or-miss songs. The film also suffered a wave of negative press in the months leading up to its release, with rumours of an on-set feud between Gadot and co-star Rachel Zegler and controversy over casting decisions.
"I was sure this movie was going to be a huge hit," she said. "And then 7 October happened, and what happens – and it happens in all kinds of industries, including in Hollywood – is that a lot of pressure is put on celebrities and actors and creators to bring up things against Israel, and it happened,".
Gadot 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."
The film faced boycott calls from pro-Palestine groups due to the involvement of Gadot, a staunch supporter of Israel and former soldier in the Israeli military.
Zegler, 24, who played the film’s titular character, expressed support for Palestinians on social media, fuelling rumours of a feud with Gadot.
On Sunday, Gadot took to her Instagram Stories to clarify her comments, saying that “the film didn’t fail solely because of external pressures.”
“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.”