Tangled Live-Action Remake Casts Diego Luna in an Original Role

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This popular and critically acclaimed Disney animated film was a huge hit, leading to spin-off shorts and a TV show. Now, after 16 years, Disney is preparing a live-action version.

Production on the live-action remake of Tangled is scheduled to begin in Spain this June, and the main actors have already been chosen. In a recent surprise announcement, Diego Luna, known for his work on Andor, has joined the cast. He will be playing a brand new character created specifically for the remake.

What to Know About Tangled

The 2010 movie is a fresh take on the classic fairy tale of Rapunzel. It tells the story of a kind, young princess with magical, long hair who’s been hidden away in a tower by her overprotective foster mother. When a charming thief named Flynn Rider accidentally stumbles upon her tower while trying to evade capture, Rapunzel finally gets a chance to escape. Together, they go on an adventure to outrun those pursuing Flynn and fulfill Rapunzel’s biggest dream.

The original animated film starred Mandy Moore as Rapunzel and Zachary Levi as Flynn Rider. Now, an Australian actress will take on those roles in a new live-action version, a casting Disney announced in December.

Following many requests from fans, Disney has officially confirmed that the song “Agatha All Along” will be included in the live-action remake. While the casting has largely mirrored the original animated movie, the addition of Luna represents the first significant departure, as she’s a brand new character. Details about the remake are currently being kept under wraps.

But when a well-known actor takes on a brand new role, it significantly alters the project. Past live-action remakes have always made changes to the original stories, typically by adding more characters or updating the setting to the present day. It appears Tangled is also taking this approach.

Michael Gracey, the director of Better Man and The Greatest Showman, is heading up the live-action remake, which will also feature musical numbers, just like the original. The screenplay is being written by Jennifer Kaytin Robinson (known for I Know What You Did Last Summer and Thor: Love and Thunder) and Michael Montemayor (Everyone I Know is Dead).

Disney Has a History With Live-Action Remakes

The original animated movie was a critical and audience success, earning an 89% ‘Certified Fresh’ rating from critics and an 87% audience score. It made $592.5 million worldwide on a budget of $260 million. While a good result, it wasn’t a blockbuster by Disney’s usual standards.

Starting with the successful 2015 live-action version of Cinderella, Disney has been consistently remaking its animated classics. Following Cinderella, they’ve released live-action versions of films like Beauty and the Beast (2017), Mulan, and Aladdin, as well as hybrid live-action/CGI films such as The Lion King and The Jungle Book.

Not every recent Disney live-action remake has been a hit, and some have faced criticism. For example, the 2025 film Snow White didn’t perform well in theaters, and the casting of Halle Bailey as Ariel in the 2023 film The Little Mermaid drew some negative reactions. The issues with Snow White led Disney to pause development on a live-action Tangled movie, a decision confirmed in December 2024. This happened after the successful release of the live-action Lilo & Stitch remake.

Tangled is available to stream on Disney+. The live-action remake doesn’t have a release date yet.

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2026-05-02 17:40