Disney has been planning a live-action version of Tangled since late 2024, but it’s only recently begun to move forward with real progress. The project was temporarily put on hold after the disappointing box office results of the Snow White remake, but Disney now feels confident about the direction of Tangled. In December, reports surfaced that Disney was testing actors for the roles of Rapunzel and Flynn Ryder, looking specifically at up-and-coming young stars. Now, the studio has announced who will play the lead roles in the new film.
As reported by The Hollywood Reporter, Teagan Croft, known for her role in Titans, and Milo Manheim, from Disney’s Zombies, have been cast as Rapunzel and Flynn in the upcoming live-action Tangled. Both actors were considered top candidates for these roles. Now, Disney is focusing on finding someone to play the villain, Mother Gothel, a part previously intended for Scarlett Johansson before she had to withdraw due to other commitments.
Will Tangled Be a Big Hit for Disney?
Disney had a mixed year at the box office, and its live-action remakes perfectly illustrate this. The film Snow White was a significant disappointment, earning only $205.6 million globally. This poor performance suggested audiences were losing interest in these remakes, leading Disney to temporarily pause development on Tangled while they reassessed the project’s potential.
It’s unclear exactly why Disney decided to revisit Tangled, but the success of the live-action Lilo & Stitch likely played a role. Lilo & Stitch earned over $1 billion worldwide, proving there’s still interest in Disney remakes. However, it also showed Disney needs to carefully choose which classic films to update. It’s probably no accident that Lilo & Stitch, a more recent animated film from 2002, performed much better. It appears Disney has learned that remaking movies that connect with today’s audiences is more successful than revisiting films from decades ago.
A new version of Tangled has a good chance of doing well. The original film was released in 2010, and a remake could attract a similar audience to Lilo & Stitch – adults who feel nostalgic and also a new generation of kids. The casting choices of Croft and Manheim seem excellent. Manheim has a strong background with Disney musicals, like his work on Zombies, so he’s well-suited to play Flynn Ryder. Croft is known for playing strong, determined characters, as seen in True Spirit, which will serve her well in portraying Rapunzel. Rapunzel is a unique Disney princess – she’s adventurous and practical. If Croft and Manheim have good on-screen chemistry, they could make this remake a huge success.
Disney will test the waters for its live-action remakes with the upcoming release of Moana this summer, before moving forward with Tangled. Because Tangled is already in development, Moana‘s performance likely won’t affect it, and Disney seems confident in that. Moana, based on the 2016 animated film, feels more similar to Lilo & Stitch than Snow White, and should appeal to viewers who enjoyed the original. If Moana is successful, it will pave the way for Tangled to also find an audience.
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2026-01-08 01:10