'Tangled' Movie at Risk? "Flynn Rider" Appears in Disney's Live-Action 'Snow White'

Disney’s Snow White is out in the world and fans can finally experience one of the most discussed movies in recent memory. With so much controversy surrounding the new Disney live-action flick, audiences are now able to make up their own mind on Rachel Zegler and Gal Gadot’s casting, the reimagining of the dwarf characters, changes to the story, and the replacement of the Prince from the classic 1937 animation.

When it comes to the latter, Disney has seemingly cannibalized its own property, essentially debuting live-action Flynn Rider before the Tangled remake can even be created.

There’s been plenty of live-action Disney remakes in the last decade. Some have been box office smashes like 2017’s Beauty and the Beast starring Emma Watson and Jon Favreau’s take on The Lion King, which both grossed over 1.5 billion dollars, but others have been duds.

Take Disney+’s Pinocchio (2022) starring Tom Hanks, which was widely panned, or Alice Through the Looking Glass (2016) which took millions less than its predecessor. Then there’s those that have been the subject of major cultural and political debate like Peter Pan & Wendy (2023), The Little Mermaid (2023), and most recently, Marc Webb’s Disney’s Snow White.

Starring Rachel Zegler and Gal Gadot as Snow White and the Evil Queen, respectively, the latest live-action film first came into development almost a decade ago. It wasn’t until 2021 that Zegler and Gadot were cast, and the discourse began. Much like the contention over Halle Bailey’s casting as Ariel in Rob Marshall’s The Little Mermaid, Colombian-American Zegler’s casting as Snow White also sparked backlash.

The debate only continued to escalate when comments were made by Zegler and Gadot regarding the live-action movie’s departure from the animated classic. There would be no searching for true love from a Prince who “stalks” Snow White, for example.

Over time, further controversies escalated including the portrayal of the dwarf characters, with critique coming from both sides. Some members of the dwarfism community chastised Disney for making the film, while others bemoaned the Mouse House’s decision to use CGI instead of casting dwarf actors.

After a scaled-back marketing rollout, including reworked European and North American premiere events, Disney’s Snow White finally came out on March 21, 2025.

Looking past the leading ladies and the dwarfs, there’s Jonathan, the love interest of Snow White and replacement for the original Prince character. Here, Jonathan, played by Under the Banner of Heaven’s Andrew Burnap, is a bandit and thief, stealing from the rich (the Evil Queen’s palace) and giving to the poor (those outside the kingdom).

But while it may sound like Disney’s Snow White features Robin Hood, it’s actually Flynn Rider who appears on screen—or it might as well be. With roguish charm and a cocky attitude, Jonathan is essentially Eugene from 2010’s Tangled—he even has the swooping brown locks that Flynn Rider is so well-known for.

And it seems the Flynn Rider approach was the angle the production was going for as Rachel Zegler told D23 Magazine: “I think people aren’t expecting the humor that Andrew’s character, Jonathan will bring to the story. […] I think the most comparable character would be Flynn Rider in Tangled.”

This then seemingly creates a problem for the upcoming Tangled live-action remake, which was revealed late last year. Will Disney have to reinvent Flynn Rider for the Tangled adaptation? Or will they suck it up and redo the character again?

“The studio is developing a reimagining of the 2010 animated movie, a musical take on the Brothers Grimm story about the magically long-haired princess Rapunzel,” Variety reported.

“The Greatest Showman filmmaker Michael Gracey is in talks to direct the film from a script by Jennifer Kaytin Robinson, whose credits include Netflix’s campy dark comedy Do Revenge, Thor: Love and Thunder and the upcoming I Know What You Did Last Summer reboot. Casting has yet to be announced.”

While Snow White has seen critique escalate regarding live adaptations from Disney, the House of Mouse isn’t slowing down.

Coming in just over two months will be their take on Lilo & Stitch, which, while having received a good response so far, is receiving backlash for its casting of Lilo’s sister, Nani. Further ahead, Tangled is coming, as is Hercules.

How do you feel about this “Flynn Rider” character being in Snow White? Let Inside the Magic know in the comments down below!