Gal Gadot’s Evil Queen Was Supposed to Be Redeemed But Disney Scrapped the Ending at the Last Minute

For months, Disney fans have eagerly anticipated the live-action adaptation of Snow White, a modern reimagining of the classic fairy tale starring Rachel Zegler as the iconic princess and Gal Gadot as the formidable Evil Queen. While discussions surrounding the film have largely focused on its casting choices and controversial changes to the original story, a shocking behind-the-scenes revelation has recently come to light. Insiders have confirmed that Gal Gadot’s Evil Queen was originally supposed to have a redemption arc, a surprising twist that would have redefined the villain’s legacy. However, in a last-minute decision, Disney executives scrapped the entire storyline, opting instead for a more traditional and sinister portrayal of the character.

A Surprising Redemption Arc That Never Made It to Theaters

From the beginning, the filmmakers sought to breathe new life into the Evil Queen by giving her a deeper backstory and exploring the emotional weight behind her obsession with youth and beauty. Unlike previous versions of the character, where she was simply a jealous and vain ruler, early versions of the script revealed a much more complex and layered version of the Queen, showcasing her vulnerabilities and the tragic experiences that led to her descent into darkness.

According to sources close to the production, the film was initially set to feature a powerful moment in the final act where the Queen realizes the consequences of her actions. Rather than meeting a gruesome fate as in the animated classic, she was meant to experience a moment of self-reflection and ultimately sacrifice herself to save Snow White. This unexpected twist would have given her character an emotional depth unseen in previous adaptations, making her more than just a one-dimensional villain.

One insider described the original ending, saying, “The Queen was supposed to have this incredible moment of reckoning. She would realize that her pursuit of perfection had consumed her, and she would choose to undo the damage she had caused. It was meant to be one of the most emotional scenes in the film, something that would have truly set this adaptation apart from previous versions.”

The same source added that Gal Gadot fully embraced this more nuanced approach to the character and delivered a stunning performance in the redemption scenes. Fans of the actress, who is best known for her portrayal of Wonder Woman, would have seen a completely different side of her acting range as she brought raw emotion to the role.

Why Did Disney Scrap the Redemption Storyline?

Despite the ambitious and refreshing take on the Evil Queen, Disney ultimately decided to abandon the redemption storyline, reverting to a more traditional and sinister portrayal of the character. This decision reportedly came from higher-ups at the studio, who felt that audiences might not be ready to see the Evil Queen in a sympathetic light.

One major concern was that allowing the Queen to redeem herself would overshadow Snow White’s journey. The focus of the film was meant to be on Snow White’s personal growth and triumph over adversity, and some executives feared that a redemptive arc for the villain would dilute that narrative. By keeping the Queen as an irredeemable force of evil, they believed Snow White’s victory would feel more satisfying and complete.

Another concern was how audiences would react to such a drastic change in the Evil Queen’s fate. Over the years, Disney fans have grown attached to the classic villains, with many preferring them to remain powerful, menacing, and completely unrepentant. While Maleficent proved that audiences could embrace a sympathetic take on a classic Disney antagonist, not every villain needs a redemption arc. The studio may have feared backlash from audiences who wanted the Evil Queen to stay true to her original wickedness.

Additionally, with Disney facing challenges in recent years over some of its creative decisions, there was hesitation to take such a bold risk. Scrapping the redemptive ending ensured that the Evil Queen remained a familiar and formidable villain, preventing any potential controversy from fans who might not have approved of her change of heart.

A source close to the production revealed, “At the end of the day, they wanted to play it safe. They didn’t want to risk making the Queen too sympathetic or losing that element of fear and intimidation that makes her such an iconic villain. In the end, they felt that keeping her as a ruthless and irredeemable character was the best choice for the film’s success.”

How Did Gal Gadot React to the Change?

Gal Gadot, who was excited to explore a deeper and more emotionally complex version of the Evil Queen, was reportedly disappointed when she learned that the redemption arc had been scrapped. She had already filmed several key emotional scenes that showcased the Queen’s internal struggle, only to have them cut from the final version of the film.

While promoting Snow White earlier this year, Gadot hinted at the complexity of her character, saying, “She’s evil, yes, but there’s something deeper to her. There’s a reason she became who she is.” This statement suggests that she was originally preparing to bring more nuance to the role, rather than simply playing the one-dimensional villain fans are used to.

Insiders claim that while she was surprised by the last-minute change, Gadot remained professional throughout the process and delivered a commanding performance as the Evil Queen, even in the final cut of the film. Still, fans who were excited to see a different side of the villain may never get to witness the full extent of her performance as originally intended.

Will Disney Ever Release the Deleted Footage?

Now that news of the scrapped redemption arc has surfaced, many fans are demanding to see the original scenes that were removed from the theatrical release. Given the growing interest in alternate cuts of films—such as the Snyder Cut movement that successfully led to the release of Zack Snyder’s original vision for Justice League—some are wondering if Disney might eventually share the deleted footage.

While it is unlikely that the studio will make major changes to the film post-release, there is still a possibility that these deleted scenes could be included as extras in a special Disney+ edition or Blu-ray release. If the footage exists, it could give fans a glimpse of Gal Gadot’s full performance and the more complex version of the Evil Queen that was initially planned.

For now, audiences will have to settle for the theatrical cut, where the Evil Queen remains a purely wicked and irredeemable villain. However, the revelation of what could have been only adds to the intrigue surrounding Snow White, proving that sometimes, even in fairy tales, not every story gets the ending it was meant to have.