SNOW WHITE Star Rachel Zegler Reportedly Eyed For Female Lead In Disney+ THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA Adaptation

SNOW WHITE Star Rachel Zegler Reportedly Eyed For Female Lead In Disney+ THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA Adaptation

A new YA adaptation of The Phantom of the Opera is in development for the Disney+ streaming service, and Snow White star Rachel Zegler is rumored to be in line to star as Christine...

News
By MarkCassidy - Jan 13, 2025 07:01 AM EST
Filed Under: Horror
Source: Via FearHQ

Yet another adaptation of The Phantom of the Opera is in development for Disney+, and the project may now be honing in on its female lead.

According to scooper MTTSH, Rachel Zegler (Snow White, West Side Story, Shazam! Fury of the Gods) is being eyed to play Christine, the object of the titular Opera Ghost's obsession. Whether this means she's actually in talks for the role or simply someone the studio is interested in is not clear.

Titled Phantom, this YA take on the classic novel by Gaston Leroux will be directed and executive produced by Kenny Ortega, who has led two major Disney franchises with High School Musical and The Descendants.

It doesn't sound like Ortega's version will be changing up the basic premise, with the story focusing on Erik, "a mysterious, disfigured musical genius who lives beneath the Paris Opera House. He becomes obsessed with a young soprano, Christine, and manipulates events to make her the star of the opera."

There have been numerous theater, film, and TV adaptations of Phantom over the years, the most famous being Andrew Lloyd Webber's record-smashing Broadway musical, which ran from 1988-2023. The most overtly horror version starred A Nightmare on Elm Street's Robert Englund, and was released in 1989. We also had Joel Schumacher's somewhat underlooked 2004 take starring Gerard Butler, Emmy Rossum and Patrick Wilson (see the trailer below).

Zegler has plenty of experience with musical roles, having appeared in numerous theater productions prior to landing the part of Maria in Stephen Spielberg's West Side Story. She also got to belt out a tune in The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes, and will next appear as the titular princess in Disney's live-action adaptation of Snow White.

If Zegler is in talks, expect the trades to weigh in soon.

The Phantom of the Opera is a 2004 musical romantic drama film based on Andrew Lloyd Webber's musical of the same name, which in turn is based on Gaston Leroux's novel, Le Fantôme de l'Opéra. Produced and co-written by Lloyd Webber and directed by Joel Schumacher, it stars Gerard Butler as the titular character, with Emmy Rossum, Patrick Wilson, Miranda Richardson, Minnie Driver, Simon Callow, Ciarán Hinds, Victor McGuire and Jennifer Ellison in supporting roles.

The film was announced in 1989, although production did not start until 2002 due to Lloyd Webber's divorce and Schumacher's busy career. It was shot entirely at Pinewood Studios, with scenery created with miniatures and computer graphics. Rossum, Wilson and Driver had singing experience, but Butler had none and was provided with music lessons prior to filming. The Phantom of the Opera grossed $154.6 million worldwide. It received mixed reviews from critics, with praise for the visuals and acting, particularly the performances of the lead actors, but criticism towards the writing, direction and unnecessary deviations from the stage version.

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KennKathleen
KennKathleen - 1/13/2025, 7:05 AM
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Urubrodi
Urubrodi - 1/13/2025, 7:11 AM
Is there a shortage of actresses in Hollywood? Like wtf is going on with Disney
MakeAmericaGrea
MakeAmericaGrea - 1/13/2025, 11:53 AM
Major studios are purposefully trying to piss off white people by race swapping white characters.
mastakilla39
mastakilla39 - 1/13/2025, 2:49 PM
@Urubrodi - She probably has a multi film deal with disney so they probably have to use her. she'll prob get kicked outta disney once she's done though as most of her films have been flops or underperformers and she's a pr mess.
DevilsDreams
DevilsDreams - 1/13/2025, 7:11 AM
Oh... um... no thank you...
Can we go with someone else?
Maybe someone who likes and cares for the original?
dragon316
dragon316 - 1/13/2025, 2:36 PM
@DevilsDreams - still haven’t saw Robert England version
MadThanos
MadThanos - 1/13/2025, 7:13 AM
According to her agents?
PutinsGooch
PutinsGooch - 1/13/2025, 7:16 AM
Lol the MAGA cultists and incels...
MakeAmericaGrea
MakeAmericaGrea - 1/13/2025, 11:57 AM
@PutinsGooch - better than the alternative.

Implying the left doesn't have thousands to millions of cultists and incels.

It's the left with all the self proclaimed and proud asexuals and aromantics and dog cosplayers and women saying they won't have sex with men after President Trump won his third election.
ObserverIO
ObserverIO - 1/13/2025, 1:25 PM
@KaDoosh - What gender are you today?
PutinsGooch
PutinsGooch - 1/13/2025, 2:18 PM
@KaDoosh - why is the whole gender issue the only thing you people seem to care about?
PutinsGooch
PutinsGooch - 1/13/2025, 2:23 PM
@MakeAmericaGrea - won his third election? Now I don't believe you're not a troll.
LiquidSwords
LiquidSwords - 1/13/2025, 3:14 PM
@PutinsGooch - It’s what you care about. It exposes your hypocrisy. How many boosters have you had? Baa.
LiquidSwords
LiquidSwords - 1/13/2025, 3:15 PM
@ObserverIO - Male since birth. When did you transition?
LiquidSwords
LiquidSwords - 1/13/2025, 3:16 PM
@MakeAmericaGrea - 🎯
ObserverIO
ObserverIO - 1/13/2025, 3:27 PM
@KaDoosh - I didn't transition. I don't identify with a gender. You do. How does that make you any different from a trans person?
PutinsGooch
PutinsGooch - 1/13/2025, 4:36 PM
@KaDoosh - I don't care about it. I care about climate change, the rise of fascism and authoritarianism, human rights, and the separation of church and state. I know nothing about the gender debate. Try again.
LiquidSwords
LiquidSwords - 1/13/2025, 10:28 PM
@ObserverIO - There's no such thing as a trans person. You can't "transition" your DNA.

So, it doesn't matter what you pretend to do or not, you're either male or female.
LiquidSwords
LiquidSwords - 1/13/2025, 10:35 PM
@PutinsGooch - lol My next question was: When is your next climate change meeting? You sound totally programmed. When did you get indoctrinated?

You seem out of the loop, too. The rise of fascism was defeated in November. So was authoritarianism. What do you mean human rights? There's a reason why the left's war on the 1st and 2nd Amendment failed. There's a reason why dei was destroyed. There's a reason why their policies fail all across the board. Look at California. Totally inept, corrupt and downright evil.

And there is no separation, if you took a basic U.S. history or civics course.

Try harder. Baa!
ObserverIO
ObserverIO - 1/14/2025, 6:39 AM
@KaDoosh - biologically yes, but you were talking specifically about gender. A trans person doesn't transition their DNA. They transition their gender identity and sometimes they transition their bodies cosmetically.

You identify as male. That's your gender identity. Being male has nothing to do with your biology (although it may be inspired by it). You are exactly the same as a trans person in that you identify with something that isn't actually real.
PutinsGooch
PutinsGooch - 1/14/2025, 9:31 AM
@KaDoosh - You're too far gone. I genuinely pity you.
LiquidSwords
LiquidSwords - 1/14/2025, 12:16 PM
@PutinsGooch - You're projecting. You have life all backwards. Spare me.
LiquidSwords
LiquidSwords - 1/14/2025, 12:17 PM
@ObserverIO - You mean specifically about sex and gender, which are the same thing, according to their etymology. Thus, you can't "transition" your "gender identity" because it's impossible.

Mutilating your body doesn't change what you are. You can dress up like a cop, but it doesn't make you one. You need to leave your bubble and understand what is truly real. Because make-believe isn't real.
ObserverIO
ObserverIO - 1/14/2025, 1:36 PM
@KaDoosh - Etymology is history. The definition of the word has recently changed, there is now a separation between gender and biological sex.

Therefore you identifying as male is just as much "make believe" as a trans person identifying as male or female.

Let me ask you, other than your male sex organs, what makes you a man? Do you ever wear make-up or a dress?
LiquidSwords
LiquidSwords - 1/14/2025, 6:00 PM
@ObserverIO - Etymology is the meaning of words, not the distortion of words. It hasn't changed because there's no reason for it to have changed. Pretending there is a separation is based on feelings and not the actual definition.

"Therefore you identifying as male is just as much "make believe" as a trans person identifying as male or female."

That doesn't make sense. It doesn't matter what I or you identify as, you are what you're made of. There is no such thing as a "trans person". You can't "trans" your biological makeup.

lol Other than, huh? Well, start with my DNA. That would make me a male. Never had to wear make-up or a dress. Well, maybe the former for Halloween.

What do your chromosomes tell you about yourself?
ObserverIO
ObserverIO - 1/14/2025, 6:34 PM
@KaDoosh - "Etymology is the meaning of words, not the distortion of words"

Actually it is. It's the root of a word, it's original meaning and how that gets distorted over time.
'With' originally meant against for example.
Gender used to mean biological sex but now means gender identity. It's changed. The language has changed.

"What do your chromosomes tell you about yourself?"

That's exactly what I'm trying to ask you. Other than chromosomes/DNA/male sex organs, what is it that defines your identity as a man?
The fact that you've never worn make-up other than for Halloween, is this part of your male identity?
LiquidSwords
LiquidSwords - 1/14/2025, 7:44 PM
@ObserverIO - "Actually it is. It's the root of a word, it's original meaning and how that gets distorted over time."

It doesn't mention getting distorted over time, though. So, no it's not.

"'With' originally meant against for example."

lol In the context of "in opposition to". You missed that. So, again. Nope.

"Gender used to mean biological sex but now means gender identity. It's changed. The language has changed."

It still means that. That's why it's on most forms, etc. So, where did it change other than in the minds of a small minority? The language never changed. Why? It didn't have to.

In fact, there was a mandate against that just last November. Dei is dead. SCOTUS also helped make that apparent. Get the memo?

"That's exactly what I'm trying to ask you. Other than chromosomes/DNA/male sex organs, what is it that defines your identity as a man?"

You're moving the goalposts and dodging my question. This all pertains to our biological makeup, not what we wish we were. This is your problem; you're living a fantasy.

Thus, per the male dna and since you want to ignore basic organs and functions of the male anatomy, we have many characteristics encoded. Masculine virtues -- physical, mental, and emotional attributes.

"The fact that you've never worn make-up other than for Halloween, is this part of your male identity?"

It's part of make-believe, regardless of sex. Vampires aren't real. 😉

Tell me, were you born with a penis or a vagina? We can wrap this up with just one answer.

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ObserverIO
ObserverIO - 1/14/2025, 8:15 PM
@KaDoosh - penis.

"Thus, per the male DNA and since you want to ignore basic organs and functions of the male anatomy, we have many characteristics encoded. Masculine virtues -- physical, mental, and emotional attributes."

So you've just admitted that your identity as a man goes beyond your chromosomes/DNA/male sex organs. Beyond your biology into "Masculine virtues". That's gender identity.
To put it in your words "It's part of make-believe, regardless of sex. Vampires aren't real."

What if a biological female has more masculine virtues than feminine? Does that, by your definition mean that she is not a woman?
LiquidSwords
LiquidSwords - 1/14/2025, 8:59 PM
@ObserverIO - "penis."

So, you're a male. End of story. You could tell others you're a female, but you'd be lying. Living a lie isn't the right way, especially in order to express yourself.

"So you've just admitted that your identity as a man goes beyond your chromosomes/DNA/male sex organs. Beyond your biology into "Masculine virtues". That's gender identity."

It's not an identity you get to choose, though. I think you missed the point. It's part of the package.

"To put it in your words "It's part of make-believe, regardless of sex. Vampires aren't real."

Well, I was born a male. I wasn't born a vampire. I had to dress up like one and pretend on Halloween. Just like those with the mental disorder do, only they do it year-round until they have regret:









"What if a biological female has more masculine virtues than feminine? Does that, by your definition mean that she is not a woman?"

Well, tomboys aren't uncommon. They're still women and the ones I knew didn't pretend to have a penis. lol
ObserverIO
ObserverIO - 1/15/2025, 6:15 AM
@KaDoosh - You're contradicting yourself.

You say that having the gender identity traits is part of the package but you're also saying that tomboys exist.

"Tomboys aren't uncommon."

Obviously gender identity traits are not part of the package. Some girls are less like girls and more like boys. So you call them tomboys.
You literally labelled them as the opposite gender because they didn't conform to your fictitious idea of gender identity.
LiquidSwords
LiquidSwords - 1/15/2025, 12:16 PM
@ObserverIO - "You're contradicting yourself. You say that having the gender identity traits is part of the package but you're also saying that tomboys exist."

That's not a contradiction. Tomboys still never say they're males. They're still females. Whatever sex/gender you are, is different than how you wish you are. 😀

"Obviously gender identity traits are not part of the package. Some girls are less like girls and more like boys. So you call them tomboys."

They still are. Tomboys are a bit rough on the edges but don't pretend to be males and typically grow out of the phase. They still do girly things and pee sitting down.

"You literally labelled them as the opposite gender because they didn't conform to your fictitious idea of gender identity."

That doesn't make sense. I labeled them what they are, which are girls. You label them as what you WISH they were, which is not what they TRULY are. Get it?

And what is "fictitious" other than your hypocritical claims? Again, it's "fictitious" to pretend you're not the gender/sex you were born as. That's just common sense.

We're still talking about a mental disorder. You don't encourage people to be MORE BIPOLAR, do you? 😀
ObserverIO
ObserverIO - 1/15/2025, 2:21 PM
@KaDoosh - "I labeled them what they are, which are girls."

No, you labelled them as boys. Tomboys.

They are not boys, they are girls. But you subscribe to a fictitious idea of what makes a girl and what makes a boy, beyond their scientific biology and these girls do not fit your fictitious idea of what makes a girl. They fit your fictitious idea of what makes a boy instead, so you call them boys.

Biologically they are female, but you refer to them as male.
LiquidSwords
LiquidSwords - 1/15/2025, 3:31 PM
@ObserverIO - "No, you labelled them as boys. Tomboys."

No, I called them by their nickname. They're not really boys. They know they're not really boys. Did you fail common sense and logic?

"They are not boys, they are girls."

There ya' go!

"But you subscribe to a fictitious idea of what makes a girl and what makes a boy, beyond their scientific biology and these girls do not fit your fictitious idea of what makes a girl."

There's nothing fictitious about stating a scientific fact. You can't go beyond their scientific biology, which is why you yourself admitted that they're girls and not boys. That's quite a contradiction you have there. 😀

"They fit your fictitious idea of what makes a boy instead, so you call them boys."

Nicknames are fictitious? We already know what makes a boy. You yourself admitted those girls are not boys. You seem really confused. You are of the mind that men can be women and women can be men -- that's the very definition of "fictitious".

"Biologically they are female, but you refer to them as male."

No, I refer to their nickname. The word "tomboy" is made in jest. They're still females. Are you wanting them to be males? Yes or no: Does a female have a penis?
ObserverIO
ObserverIO - 1/15/2025, 4:25 PM
@KaDoosh - Made in jest? And what is the joke, that they act more like boys than girls?

You don't see it.

You're saying that they display male traits even though they are female. That's the contradiction right there. If a female can display male traits then those traits are not mutually exclusive to the male biological sex. They are a social construct. A fiction.
LiquidSwords
LiquidSwords - 1/15/2025, 6:30 PM
@ObserverIO - "Made in jest? And what is the joke, that they act more like boys than girls?"

No, that they are tough and rough "like" boys, not that they "are" boys.

"You don't see it."

I see that you're trying to equate this with gender dysphoria but it's not a good comparison. This isn't rocket-science.

"You're saying that they display male traits even though they are female. That's the contradiction right there."

No, I'm saying that behaving in such a way doesn't change what they are. You seem to be missing the point. Should kids get to have their skin removed in favor of lizard hide because they want to be a dinosaur? lol

"If a female can display male traits then those traits are not mutually exclusive to the male biological sex. They are a social construct. A fiction."

Again, the females here aren't telling everyone they're males. They know the difference, so does everyone else.

Yes, anyone pretending to be of the opposite sex/gender is indeed a fiction.
ObserverIO
ObserverIO - 1/16/2025, 3:02 AM
@KaDoosh - I'm not actually talking about gender dysphoria as much as gender conformity.

Girls behaving "Tough and rough 'like' boys" goes against your ideas of gender conformity, so you call them Tomboys. They don't call themselves Tomboys. They call themselves girls. They are biologically girls. But because they don't conform to your non-scientific fiction of what a girl is, you call them boys.

Behaving rough and tough are not exclusive traits of the male DNA.
Girls behaving rough and tough scientifically disproves the notion that they are exclusive traits of the male DNA.
But that notion is deeply withheld. And when people, like you, who still believe this false notion see it contradicted in a girl, you have to call her a boy.

Ideas of gender conformity lead to ideas of gender transition.
ObserverIO
ObserverIO - 1/16/2025, 3:09 AM
I realize my ideas may seem radical. But I see a madness that has taken hold of humanity for millennia, a madness that has recently manifested itself with things such as gender dysphoria and trans culture in general.
LiquidSwords
LiquidSwords - 1/16/2025, 12:31 PM
@ObserverIO - "I'm not actually talking about gender dysphoria as much as gender conformity."

Even though "gender conformity" is made up, they're the same deal.

"Girls behaving "Tough and rough 'like' boys" goes against your ideas of gender conformity,"

There's no such thing as "gender conformity". "Tomboys" don't go against any of my ideas. It's a label they were given, not one they made themselves or even a label they call themselves.

"so you call them Tomboys. They don't call themselves Tomboys. They call themselves girls. They are biologically girls. But because they don't conform to your non-scientific fiction of what a girl is, you call them boys."

What do you mean my "non-scientific fiction of what a girl is"? They are girls. That's what they conform to, whether you or I like it or not.

You're reaching. I don't call them boys. "Tomboys" is a nickname, it's not an official label. That's why you don't see it on forms, ID's, etc. Are you denying this scientific fact that they're females or are you still contradicting yourself?

"Behaving rough and tough are not exclusive traits of the male DNA."

To a degree, they are. After all, there's things men can do that women can't. It's why you see the boys pretending to be girls in sports are dominating the field. That's why the House just passed a bill against it. 😀

"Girls behaving rough and tough scientifically disproves the notion that they are exclusive traits of the male DNA."

Nope. Again, it's a scientific fact that women cannot compete against men in the areas of "rough and tough". But you knew that.

"But that notion is deeply withheld. And when people, like you, who still believe this false notion see it contradicted in a girl, you have to call her a boy."

Huh? You're projecting. I don't have a false notion. We know the differences and you're riding the fence on them. So, what's the contradiction other than you going back and forth on this, trying but failing to equate "tomboys" with gender dysphoria? lol

"Ideas of gender conformity lead to ideas of gender transition."

You mean make-believe. There is no gender conformity. You can't change your gender. Your biological makeup is irreversible. That's a scientific fact that you keep ignoring.
LiquidSwords
LiquidSwords - 1/16/2025, 12:34 PM
@ObserverIO - What? The so-called culture is dying because of the madness it entails. I know.
ObserverIO
ObserverIO - 1/16/2025, 1:14 PM
@KaDoosh - You're still not understanding the new definition of the word 'gender'. You can change your gender because your gender is a fictional construct. You can also change your character in a play. You cannot change your biological sex.

This is the key difference.

The reason people change their genders is because society tells them that they are not conforming to their genders. If a man wants to wear make-up and a dress and watch romcoms and eat ice cream, he can't because men don't do that. So he has to 'identify' as a woman. Then he's allowed to because suddenly he's (or she's) conforming to his (or her) new gender.

It's bullshit for society to say that men can't do that. They can if they want to. But our fictitious definitions of gender don't allow it.

Similarly if a woman wants to watch sports and drink beer while scratching her pubic region she should be allowed to. And she is allowed to. But our social conventions dictate that women don't do that. That's a strictly male trait. If she does that we would call her a Tomboy or a lesbian.
I can see why some women start to identify as men just so everyone would get off their back and let them do what they want to do.

Our ideas of gender conformity are bullshit. And they lead to the gender transitioning (again, this means gender identity transitioning, not the transitioning of biological sex, which is, as far as we know, an impossibility in humans) and 'gender dysphoria' all of which are potentially damaging mental conditions brought on by the trauma of a society that imposes the idea of gender identity on people.

They've imposed this idea on all of us, you included. But since you're not the type of man that enjoys putting on lipstick and painting your friend's toenails, you probably find it easy to conform to the fictitious gender identity of male.
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