Rachel Zegler Joining MCU May Inadvertently Benefit 1 Marvel Star’s Public Image

Actress Rachel Zegler recently made her Broadway debut playing Juliet in the revival of Romeo + Juliet alongside Kit Connor. She is known for her work as María in Steven Spielberg’s musical adaptation of West Side Story. The young actress has played Anthea in DC’s Shazam! Fury of the Gods and Lucy Gray in The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes.

The actress will be seen portraying the titular character in Snow White, the live-action adaptation of the animated Disney movie, which came out in 1937. The movie is scheduled for release in 2025, but it has already caused a lot of controversy. Now if rumors are true, she can be a part of the MCU and Zegler’s casting in the MCU can help one Marvel actress.

Reports suggest Rachel Zegler is being eyed for a role in the MCU

According to reports by an insider X account (@MyTimeToShineH), Marvel Studios hopes to get actress Rachel Zegler on board for a role. The insider did not reveal further about what kind of role she is being considered for.

Zegler portrayed Anthea in DC’s Shazam! Fury of the Gods, which starred Zachary Levi in the lead role. She became the second Colombian-American to be cast in a DC superhero project after Sasha Calle. Upon its release, the movie received mixed reviews from critics and the audience. The actress had shared about her character via ComicBook.com;

Obviously, it’s really fun to play Snow White, but it’s really cool to take a walk on the wild side every now and then. I think coming into a sequel is a bit different than doing a re-imagination a live-action or even a prequel.

She added at the time that DC fans are so intelligent about the lore behind everything, so she hoped she wouldn’t disappoint them. Zegler also noted that she’d want to be a part of the Star Wars franchise.

Zegler is one of the top actresses in the industry currently, and it’s understandable why Marvel Studios would want her for a role in the MCU. Even though there has been no confirmation regarding this news, if Zegler is finalized for a role in the MCU, she won’t be the first actor to make a switch from DC to Marvel.

Actor Ryan Reynolds, who is now widely known for playing Deadpool, had previously played Deadpool in 2009’s X-Men Origins: Wolverine and Green Lantern in 2011. Zachary Levi had also appeared as Fandral in the Marvel Cinematic Universe before he said yes to William ‘Billy’ Batson.

Snow White actress Rachel Zegler can change Brie Larson’s image if she joins the MCU

Rachel Zegler will be seen as the iconic Disney princess Snow White in the highly anticipated live-action adaptation of the animated movie Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. Her casting as Snow White, however, led to racist backlash as fans believed that she did not qualify as Snow White. She wrote on her X in a now-deleted post, ‘Yes, I am Snow White, and no, I am not bleaching my skin for the role.’.

Addressing the backlash, in an interview with Extra TV in 2022, the actress called the original movie ‘dated’ and criticized Snow White’s relationship with a ‘guy who stalked her’. She called the dynamic weird and mentioned that her version is not really about the love story but the inner journey of the character to find her true self. Recalling the hate she received after her comments, she shared with Variety,

In all honesty, it made me sad that it was taken in such a way because I believe that women can do anything. But I also believe that they can do everything.

The actress was again under the public’s radar after she posted a story about Donald Trump, who won the 2024 Presidential Election. However, she later apologized for her comments in which she mentioned ‘Trump and Trump supporters may never know peace’ by stating that her anger got the best of her but the damage was done till then. She had been a subject of various news articles by the time she apologized. (via Variety)

Now, with the news of her joining the MCU, actress Brie Larson, who plays Captain Marvel in the MCU, can benefit. The actress has never received a positive reaction from the audience since she was announced as Captain Marvel.

Fans according to Movie Web at the time criticized the actress’ lack of smiling and her press comments perceived as sexist towards men at the Women in Film Crystal + Lucy Awards in 2018. The character was showcased as too cocky and egotistical to be a superhero, which did not sit right with the audience. They simply stated that Larson doesn’t seem fit to play the character.

Upon asking about the backlash, she simply said she did not have time for it. (Via EW)

Though the hate or backlash for Larson has decreased over the years, but if Rachel Zegler joins the MCU, maybe it’s going to get divided, and neither of them has to take on their haters alone. Zegler’s joining the franchise can give Larson a backseat for a while. However, in a way, it suggests that Zegler could be a scapegoat for Larson but her outspoken personality might overshadow Larson’s.

Larson has achieved success in the Marvel Universe, but it’s nothing when compared with Scarlett Johansson’s popularity and how much fans admire her. Maybe Rachel Zegler’s casting will take away some heat off Larson’s back.

Snow White is scheduled for a 2025 release.