Released on March 21, 2025, the remake of Snow White failed to resonate with its audience. Yet, Disney had invested the resources: a colossal budget estimated at $270 million, a rising actress, Rachel Zegler, and a stated ambition to modernize the classic tale. Today, the entertainment giant is completely reviewing its strategy and even deciding to put this major project on hold.
Disney lost more than $115 million on the film
So, the magic didn't work. In the United States, the film only grossed $69 to $70 million, far below expectations. Worldwide, only $145 million was collected. An alarming figure for a production of this magnitude. The result: a big loss for Disney, which could reach more than $115 million.
The film not only failed at the box office. It also faced a wave of criticism on several fronts: Internet users were very divided over the choice of actors and the rewriting of the script, which were said to be too far removed from the 1937 classic. Then, the positions taken on the situation in the Middle East by certain members of the team poisoned things.
Disney stops Tangled before filming even begins
Faced with this setback, Disney reacted by pausing the remake of Tangled, announced for December 2024. This project had, however, begun to take shape. Michael Gracey, known for The Greatest Showman, was to direct it. Jennifer Kaytin Robinson, screenwriter of Thor: Love and Thunder, was also part of it.
Thus, preproduction was stopped. Meetings with the actors, which had been ongoing for several weeks, have been suspended. According to several sources, Disney wants to reevaluate its strategy regarding live-action adaptations.
For more than ten years, Disney has been exploiting the remake market, and some have actually been successful. For example, Beauty and the Beast, Aladdin, The Lion King have exceeded $1 billion in revenue each. But others have been paltry, such as Dumbo, The Little Mermaid, or Alice on the other hand of the mirror have disappointed.
Moreover, Tangled won't be the only project to suffer. The prequel to Aladdin, centered on the Genie, has already been canceled. The remakes of The Enchanter and Bambi also seem to be on hold. Even Guy Ritchie's highly anticipated Hercules remains uncertain. The same goes for Prince Charming.
The original 2010 film still holds the record for the most expensive animated film in Disney history, at $260 million (excluding inflation). Recreating the magical world, the princess's animated hair, the visual effects... All of this would have required massive resources.
Disney isn't giving up on live-action, however. Two other interesting projects are in development. These include Lilo & Stitch, scheduled for May 21, 2025. The trailer, unveiled in March, was viewed massively. Then there is Moana, which will arrive in the summer of 2026 with Dwayne Johnson as Maui.
0 Comments