OMG, Is Disney Really in TROUBLE?! 😱 The Fantastic Four set is BURNING with secrets, and Rachel Zegler just dropped a JAW-DROPPING nickname for Pedro Pascal that’s got Hollywood buzzing! 👀 What’s going on behind the scenes? Are these stars about to sink Disney’s big Marvel comeback? Click to uncover the shocking drama that’s got fans raging! 🔥

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In the glitzy world of Hollywood, where blockbusters are born and reputations are made or broken, Disney finds itself at a crossroads. The studio, a century-old titan known for wholesome entertainment, is grappling with a string of high-profile missteps. Its latest Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) venture, The Fantastic Four: First Steps (released July 25, 2025), was meant to herald a triumphant return for Marvel’s First Family. Yet, whispers of behind-the-scenes drama, fueled by stars Pedro Pascal and Rachel Zegler, threaten to overshadow the film’s retro-futuristic charm. From Zegler’s affectionate “Daddy” nickname for Pascal to their polarizing public personas, the question looms: Can Disney weather this storm, or is the House of Mouse in peril?

The Fantastic Four: A New Hope for Marvel
Directed by Matt Shakman, The Fantastic Four: First Steps introduces Pedro Pascal as Reed Richards, Vanessa Kirby as Sue Storm, Joseph Quinn as Johnny Storm, and Ebon Moss-Bachrach as Ben Grimm. Set in an alternate 1960s with advanced technology, the film has been lauded for its fresh aesthetic and focus on family dynamics. Early reports indicate a robust $220–230 million global box office debut, a promising start for a franchise Disney CEO Bob Iger calls “important” for the MCU’s future. Plans for sequels and integration into Avengers: Doomsday (2026) signal high expectations. Yet, despite critical acclaim, the film faces a familiar foe: fan backlash over perceived “woke” changes and its stars’ off-screen antics.

Rachel Zegler: The Lightning Rod
Rachel Zegler, though not a cast member of Fantastic Four, is a central figure in Disney’s current woes. Her starring role in the live-action Snow White (2025) was meant to be a crown jewel in Disney’s remake strategy, but the film became a cautionary tale. Grossing just $143.1 million against a $350 million budget, Snow White flopped spectacularly. Critics panned it (41% on Rotten Tomatoes, 1.6/10 on IMDb), and audiences stayed away, partly due to Zegler’s controversial comments. She called the 1937 animated original “extremely dated” and dismissed its romantic elements as “weird,” alienating fans who cherished the classic. Her political statements, including a pro-Palestinian post during the film’s promotion and harsh words for Trump supporters, further fueled the fire. Disney’s response—hiring a social media guru to vet her posts and beefing up security for co-star Gal Gadot amid death threats—underscored the chaos.

Zegler’s outspokenness isn’t new. In 2022, she publicly complained about not being invited to the Oscars for West Side Story, straining ties with Disney. Her refusal to back down, even when producer Marc Platt flew to New York to address her Snow White posts, cemented her as a polarizing figure. Some, like Melissa Barrera and Ariana Grande, praised her “integrity,” but others, including Jonah Platt, accused her of narcissism and harming the film’s prospects. The fallout has cast a long shadow, with fans and commentators linking her to Disney’s broader struggles.

Pedro Pascal: The Internet’s Daddy and Disney’s Dilemma
Enter Pedro Pascal, the charismatic star of The Mandalorian, The Last of Us, and now Fantastic Four. Known for his charm and versatility, Pascal is a Hollywood juggernaut. Yet, his vocal political activism has sparked concerns about his impact on Disney’s projects. In March 2025, Pascal posted an Instagram Story calling Zegler an “icon,” a move that drew swift backlash. Fans criticized him for supporting Zegler while remaining silent on Gina Carano’s 2021 firing from The Mandalorian over controversial posts. Social media users pointed out the “Disney double standard,” noting that both Pascal and Zegler’s paychecks bear the same logo.

Pascal’s activism extends beyond Zegler. He wore a “Protect the Dolls” T-shirt at the Thunderbolts premiere, a pro-trans statement tied to his support for his transgender sister, Lux. He also called J.K. Rowling a “heinous loser” for her views on biological sex, urging a boycott of the Harry Potter franchise. These moves, while resonating with progressive audiences, have alienated some fans, who fear his politics could tank Fantastic Four as Zegler’s did Snow White. Despite this, Pascal’s star power remains undeniable, and Disney seems reluctant to rein him in, likely due to his bankability and the MCU’s need for a hit.

The “Woke” Allegations and Fan Backlash
Fantastic Four itself isn’t immune to controversy. The casting of Julia Garner as a female Silver Surfer (traditionally Norrin Radd) sparked accusations of a “woke agenda,” despite comic precedent for Shalla-Bal as the Surfer. Stars Joseph Quinn and Vanessa Kirby further stirred the pot by calling the original comics “sexist” and “outdated,” echoing Zegler’s Snow White missteps. These comments, while less inflammatory, have fueled skepticism among purists wary of Hollywood’s reimagining of beloved properties. The parallels to Snow White are striking: both projects faced pre-release criticism for straying from source material and for stars’ public statements.

Disney’s broader context doesn’t help. Recent flops like The Acolyte and Thunderbolts have intensified scrutiny of the studio’s creative and PR strategies. The firing of Gina Carano, contrasted with Disney’s tolerance of Pascal and Zegler’s activism, has sparked accusations of hypocrisy. Carano’s ongoing lawsuit against Disney for wrongful termination, backed by Elon Musk, adds another layer of tension. Fans on platforms like X have voiced frustration, with some predicting Pascal’s outspokenness could doom Fantastic Four’s box office, though its strong debut suggests resilience.

Zegler and Pascal’s Bond: More Than a Nickname
The query’s mention of Zegler calling Pascal “Daddy” stems from their warm, familial friendship. During Zegler’s Evita run in London’s West End (July–September 2025), Pascal attended her opening night, giving standing ovations and earning her affectionate moniker “Dad.” This lighthearted dynamic, amplified by clickbait headlines, contrasts with the serious controversies surrounding them. Their mutual support—Pascal cheering Zegler’s West Side Story performance, Zegler calling him “love personified”—highlights a genuine bond. Yet, in the context of Disney’s struggles, this camaraderie has been weaponized by critics as evidence of Hollywood’s “echo chamber.”

Disney’s Path Forward
Disney faces a delicate balancing act. The MCU, once a box office juggernaut, has struggled since 2019’s Avengers: Endgame. Fantastic Four’s success is critical, but the studio must navigate fan expectations, star controversies, and cultural divides. Reining in Pascal and Zegler risks alienating progressive audiences, while ignoring their impact could further erode Disney’s family-friendly reputation. The studio’s silence on Zegler’s Snow White fiasco and its continued support for Pascal suggest a strategy of weathering the storm, banking on star power and quality filmmaking to win back audiences.

Conclusion: A Test of Resilience
Disney’s Fantastic Four: First Steps is more than a superhero reboot—it’s a litmus test for the studio’s ability to adapt in an era of polarized audiences and social media scrutiny. Pedro Pascal and Rachel Zegler, for better or worse, embody this challenge. Their talent and charisma are undeniable, but their public personas have sparked debates that threaten Disney’s brand. As the MCU looks to reclaim its dominance, the question remains: Can Disney harness its stars’ energy without letting their controversies steal the spotlight? For now, Fantastic Four’s strong debut offers hope, but the road ahead is fraught with uncertainty.