Elon Musk-headed DOGE should look into $250m budget for Snow White, suggests Joe Rogan

US podcaster Joe Rogan has ridiculed Disney’s Snow White remake after its disappointing box office debut. He suggested that Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) should probe its production costs.

The film, as per reports, had a budget of around $250 million but earned just $43 million at its opening weekend across the United States and Canada. In the second week of its running, the film saw a steep decline of 66 per cent in viewers. The film has become one of Disney’s biggest box office failures in recent years.

As per reports, during an episode of The Joe Rogan Experience, comedian Kurt Metzger joined Rogan in dissecting the film’s downfall. Playing the footage of CGI dwarfs, Rogan said that it looked bad and did not look real at all.


Responding to his comments, Metzger said that the makers put it all on the lead actor, Rachel Zegler. He said that her performance might not have been great, but that she’s young. He commented that Zegler did not write the script and that she did not decide to remove the dwarves. He added that Peter Dinklage did.

Rachel Zegler’s controversies and the film’s reception

A report in The National Desk stated that Rogan and Metzger discussed whether Zegler’s outspoken political views contributed to the film’s failure. Reportedly, in November, the actor had publicly wished for Donald Trump and his supporters to never know peace. Rogan suggested that her comments alienated potential audiences.

Reportedly, Metzger pointed out that Zegler’s feminist stance had already drawn criticism. But her support for Palestine on social media ultimately made her a scapegoat for the film’s failure.

Metzger, as per the reports, said that once she tweeted Free Palestine, they put the entire weight of the failure on her.

Reportedly, Zegler had later apologised and acknowledged that political anger influenced her statements. She noted that hatred and anger caused people to move further and further away from peace and understanding. She added that she is sorry for having contributed to negative discourse.

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Production woes and studio response

The Snow White remake was marred by multiple controversies long before its release. The studio had faced backlash for modifying the portrayal of the Seven Dwarfs after criticism from Game of Thrones actor Peter Dinklage. Zegler’s dismissive remarks about the original 1937 film also led to public outrage.

The son of producer Marc Platt, Jonah, had later revealed that his father was compelled to personally intervene after Zegler’s social media comments created negative press. In a now-deleted Instagram post, he said that his father had to fly across the US to reprimand a 20-year-old employee.

The reports stated that amid the backlash, Disney reportedly restricted media invitations to the film’s premiere, which further fuelled speculation that the studio anticipated a negative reception.

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FAQs

What was the budget for Disney's Snow White?
The cost for the movie was reported to be in the ballpark of $250 million, making it one of the most expensive movies Disney has made in recent years.

What are the reasons Rachel Zegler is being blamed for the film's failure?
Zegler has been quite blunt with her political opinion, calling out Donald Trump and being in support of Palestine, which has created controversy. Others claim she has been a means to scapegoat all other issues for the film's overall production quality.