Gloria Estefan Says Rachel Zegler Will Play Her….in a Movie That Doesn’t Exist

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I was surprised to hear Gloria Estefan say Rachel Zegler is going to play her in a biopic! Apparently, that movie isn’t actually happening yet, and Rachel hasn’t even been offered the part. Honestly, after all the drama surrounding the *Snow White* movie, I’m starting to wonder if Hollywood even knows what it’s doing when it comes to casting her in anything these days.

Gloria Estefan is marking five decades as a musician, a career highlighted by eight Grammy Awards, over 100 million albums sold, and the Presidential Medal of Freedom. However, she recently surprised many by announcing that actress Rachel Zegler will portray her in a new biographical film.

There’s just one little problem — the movie doesn’t exist.

Estefan told The Sun she’s still in the early stages of approval and hasn’t yet made a formal offer to Zegler for the role.

We’re still finalizing the details – the location and the process – but this project has been developing for several years. I just need to give her a concrete role, and we’re very close to getting full approval to move forward.

So, there’s no studio backing this project, no money secured, no agreement in place, and no contract signed. Despite all of that, reports claim Rachel Zegler is supposedly cast in the role.

It might seem like someone is trying to revive a struggling actress’s career by associating her with a project that’s unlikely to happen, and that’s probably accurate. Rachel Zegler’s career has faced difficulties since the backlash against the *Snow White* film, which became a major problem for Disney. Estefan’s willingness to work with her might be the first sign of support from anyone in Hollywood since then.

Rachel Zegler’s Fall From Disney Grace

It seems incredible now, but Rachel Zegler first gained attention after being chosen by Steven Spielberg for his remake of *West Side Story*. She was immediately recognized as a promising new actress and soon after landed the role of Snow White, one of Disney’s most famous characters.

Then came the interviews — and the attitude.

During interviews for the new *Snow White* movie, Rachel Zegler criticized the original 1937 film, saying the Prince’s behavior amounted to stalking and that the story felt old-fashioned and strange. She explained that her version of the story would be more updated and give Snow White more agency. This statement alone upset many dedicated Disney fans, but Zegler continued to share her opinions.

During Disney’s D23 event, Rachel Zegler, while promoting her new $270 million film, added the phrase “Free Palestine” to a social media post celebrating the trailer’s 120 million views – despite the video receiving a large number of dislikes. This political statement, connected to the marketing of a family movie, surprised Disney executives. It also reportedly led to an increase in death threats directed at her co-star, Gal Gadot, an Israeli actress, and Gadot’s children. As a result, Disney had to increase security measures to protect Gadot and her family.

According to *Variety*, producer Marc Platt traveled to New York to discuss the incident with Zegler, but she stood her ground and didn’t remove the post.

She sparked controversy again after the 2024 election with posts saying offensive things about Donald Trump and wishing misfortune on him and his followers. This was a major risk for the company, which relies on families and customers in many parts of the country, especially parents who buy tickets for their children – it was like intentionally creating a disaster.

When *Snow White* was released in theaters in March 2025, it had already become clear the film wouldn’t be a success. It only earned $87 million worldwide, far less than the $87 million analysts predicted, despite costing a lot to make—and even more due to significant reshoots. This was a major disappointment for Disney, who had hoped the movie would make a billion dollars.

According to one studio executive who spoke with *Variety*, the $50 million opening weekend for the live-action remake of a classic film – especially considering its $270 million budget and extensive reshoots – is a clear failure. They stated simply that the numbers don’t add up.

No, it didn’t. And neither did Zegler’s public image.

The Actress Who Wouldn’t Listen

Viewers weren’t the only ones losing interest. Disney itself had become frustrated with Zegler’s outspokenness. Reports suggest she wouldn’t change her online activity unless Disney paid for a social media expert to screen her posts first.

It’s extremely rare for a movie studio to manage an actor’s social media, but Disney felt it had to in this case. Rachel Zegler had become a public relations problem for a big-budget, family-friendly film – costing around $270 million, and likely much more (some estimate over $300 million when including the costs of reshoots and marketing).

After the film’s failure, it became obvious that the initial excitement surrounding Zegler in Hollywood had faded. Media outlets shifted from praising her as a promising talent to labeling her as someone who generated disagreement and debate.

Now, the Gloria Estefan Connection

Gloria Estefan seems to be a fan of Rachel Zegler’s singing ability, even if she’s only seen it from a distance. She shared with *The Sun* that she connected with Zegler online and was impressed by her role in *Evita* on London’s West End.

“She’s got a beautiful singing voice and she’s a great actor,” Estefan said.

That’s nice to hear, but excitement doesn’t change the fact that this movie is still just a concept. Estefan has said they haven’t secured a studio, director, or funding yet. It’s not based on her Broadway show, *On Your Feet!*, and is currently just an idea being developed.

Why cast Rachel Zegler as the main character before the script was finished or a contract was signed? The simple explanation is publicity. Attaching a well-known actress – even one who sparks debate – guarantees attention, even if that attention comes with some negative associations.

Is Hollywood Finished With Rachel Zegler?

Currently, it seems very likely she won’t be involved. Following the cancellation of *Snow White*, Rachel Zegler hasn’t signed on to any large-scale Hollywood films. While she’s been working in theater and on smaller independent projects, she hasn’t received any offers for major blockbusters.

As a lifelong movie fan, it’s pretty clear Hollywood hasn’t forgotten the trouble this particular film caused. I remember all the reports of endless reshoots, the negative press, and how badly it performed at the box office – it was a real low point for Disney. They used to hype her as their next princess, but now it feels like they’re just letting her fade away, hoping for a little stage success or maybe some fan campaigns to bring her back. It’s a strange turn of events, honestly.

And now, even the “big comeback role” — playing Gloria Estefan — isn’t actually greenlit.

Perhaps the most significant thing about this is that Rachel Zegler’s upcoming leading role is currently just a possibility. It’s a project that’s been announced, but doesn’t yet have funding or a production company behind it – a role promised, but not yet realized.

It’s ironic, considering I used to talk about updating fairy tales, that this story is so traditional – it’s about arrogance, a fall from grace, and perhaps believing too much in perfect endings.

Final Thoughts

Gloria Estefan has rightfully earned her success and deserves the chance to see her life story on the big screen. However, Rachel Zegler’s career hasn’t quite taken off as expected. The recent backlash surrounding the *Snow White* film highlighted a key point: audiences prefer to be entertained, not preached to, by the actors they’re watching.

Look, if this Gloria Estefan biopic ever actually happens – and honestly, it’s still up in the air – Rachel Zegler might want to heed the singer’s own famous words: be prepared to really *work*. It’s a playful nudge, suggesting she’ll need to bring a lot of energy and dedication to the role if she wants to do it justice.

Because Hollywood certainly isn’t carrying her anymore.

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2025-10-19 17:59