EXCLUSIVE: Though her upcoming breakout role as Maria in Steven Spielberg’s new retelling of West Side Story doesn’t bow till this winter, Rachel Zegler looks to have already found her next big role in Disney’s latest live-action adaptation of an animated classic. Sources tell Deadline Zegler is set to star as Snow White in Walt Disney live-action adaptation of the film that started it all for studio’s legendary slated of animated features. Marc Webb will direct with Marc Platt producing. Production is expected to star in 2022.
“Rachel’s extraordinary vocal abilities are just the beginning of her gifts. Her strength, intelligence and optimism will become an integral part of rediscovering the joy in this classic Disney fairytale,” says Webb.
The original Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs cartoon, based on the Brothers Grimm fairytale, was first released over 80 years ago. It was Disney’s inaugural animated feature film and became a massive success for the studio. Insiders say this film will expand upon the story and music from the 1938 animated classic. Benj Pasek and Justin Paul, the duo behind La La Land, The Greatest Showman and Dear Evan Hansen, will write new songs for the movie. A big reason the studio has taken their time on this adaptation is making they get the music right and insiders add higher ups are very excited with what Pasek and Paul have come up with following early returns.
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As for the casting process, Webb and studio execs had been meeting with talent for several months for the role of White. While her auditions impressed everyone, insiders say early footage from West Side Story, which is being released by Disney owned-20th Century in December, blew everyone away and helped in pushing the decision across the finish line.
The casting also marks a step in the right direction of diversifying its Disney Princess characters after tapping Halle Bailey to play Ariel in the upcoming live-action The Little Mermaid movie.
Zegler is no stranger to big auditions as she already went through it on West Side Story, when as a 17 year old high school student she beat out more then 30K actresses for the role of Maria. The new adaptation will bow on Dec. 10 and also stars Ansel Elgort and Rita Moreno. On top of that, she also found her first big comic-book movie prior to her big break as she joins Zachary Levi in D.C.’s Shazam! Fury of the Gods.
She is repped by ICM Partners.