Rachel Zegler

has now found her next movie after the disappointing release of Snow White. Zegler rose to fame with the release of Steven Spielberg’s West Side Story remake in 2021, a role that earned the actor a Golden Globe. This musical paved the way for a leading role in The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes (2023), which was a hit, and for Disney’s live-action Snow White remake. The latter film has been mired in controversy for months now, and has been a box office disappointment.

Variety reports that Zegler will star opposite Marisa Tomei in a comedy drama called She Gets It From Me. Jay Reiss wrote the script for the film, which Julia von Heinz will direct, with Zegler confirmed to be playing Tomei’s daughter. Embankment Films is launching global pre-sales for the project at Cannes this year. The movie’s logline is included below:

Based on a true story, “She Gets It From Me” follows Nicky (Zegler), whose engagement celebration turns into a search for her pill-popping, ex-punk rocker birth mother, Charlotte (Tomei). Together, the two embark on an anarchic mother-and-daughter journey to reconnect.”

On top of this plot information, a further story tease adds: “YouTube is packed with tearful family reunions, but nobody films the messy aftermath.” Von Heinz shared the following statement about She Gets It From Me:

“The emotional truth of the movie, reflecting parts of all our lives, is truly funny, immersive cinema. Jay’s screenplay captures family dynamics at their most authentic: absurd yet profound, messy yet meaningful. The collision of two worlds creates comedy that cuts deep because it’s so honest.”

Producer Jen Dana from 3311 Productions also shared a statement, highlighting Zegler’s contributions:

“Rachel always brings a brilliant depth and humanity to her roles, and we are so excited for her to continue to showcase her versatility and humor as an actress.”

What This Means For Rachel Zegler

The Snow White Controversy Explained

West Side Story reviews were glowing from critics, with particular praise aimed at Zegler and her portrayal of María. Though reviews weren’t quite as positive for The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes, the Hunger Games movie was a success with audiences and grossed $348 million worldwide. Snow White reviews have not been positive from critics and the film hasn’t been a success in theaters, having grossed just $200 million as of writing on a budget of around $250 million.

Zegler herself has become a controversial figure with the release of the new remake, particularly in more conservative circles, due to comments she made about the original Snow White movie and certain outdated elements of its story and characters. She Gets It From Me now represents an opportunity for Zegler to leave the Snow White controversies in the rearview mirror. If the film is a success, it could affirm that Zegler remains a bankable movie star, despite the situation with the Disney remake.

Our Take On She Gets It From Me

It Could Be A Refreshing Change For Zegler

While the Snow White situation is unfortunate, Zegler is still very early in her career. Both West Side Story and The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes suggest that the Disney remake will be a hiccup in an otherwise continued rise of the actor’s stardom. She Gets It From Me will be a smaller-scale project than these two movies and Snow White, but the pairing of Zegler with Tomei could be an effective one on-screen.

With no promotional materials having been released, it’s too early to say whether She Gets It From Me will be a hit. Von Heinz does, however, have several notable projects in her filmography, meaning the film appears to be in good hands. It remains to be seen how the film will fit into Zegler’s larger career arc, but she’s evidently not slowing down after Snow White.

Source: Variety

Rachel Zegler

Birthdate

May 3, 2001

Birthplace

Hackensack, New Jersey, USA

Notable Projects

The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes, West Side Story