Credit: DisneyMother knows best, and now fans know the main cast for Disney’s upcoming live-action princess movie.
After years of speculation and stalled development, Disney’s live-action take on Tangled is finally gaining momentum. The studio has selected Teagan Croft and Milo Manheim to lead the new adaptation of the 2010 animated film, casting Croft as Rapunzel and Manheim as Flynn Rider.
The casting marks a significant step forward for a project that, until recently, appeared uncertain. Disney has spent the past decade translating many of its animated titles into live-action films, but Tangled’s path to the screen has faced more turbulence than most. At various points, fan speculation placed several high-profile names in the running for Rapunzel, including Taylor Swift, Sabrina Carpenter, and Jojo Siwa.
Croft, widely known for portraying Raven in HBO Max’s Titans, now takes on the role of the sheltered princess with magical hair whose journey beyond her tower forms the emotional backbone of the story. Opposite her is Manheim, who built a strong following through Disney Channel’s Zombies franchise and his appearance on Dancing With the Stars. He will play Flynn Rider, the charismatic thief who unexpectedly becomes Rapunzel’s guide and ally.
In the original animated film, the characters were voiced by Mandy Moore and Zachary Levi. Tangled went on to become both a financial success and a critical favorite, earning close to $600 million worldwide and securing an Academy Award nomination for the song “I See the Light.”
The new film will be directed by Michael Gracey, best known for helming 2017’s The Greatest Showman. The screenplay comes from Jennifer Kaytin Robinson, whose recent credits include Thor: Love and Thunder (2022), Do Revenge (2022), and I Know What You Did Last Summer (2025). Producing the project is Kristin Burr, continuing her collaboration with Disney following work on the studio’s Cruella (2021) starring Emma Stone.
The renewed momentum follows a period where Tangled’s future looked uncertain. After the strong backlash and disappointing audience reception surrounding Disney’s live-action Snow White in 2025, insiders suggested the studio quietly reevaluated several projects in development. Tangled was reportedly among the titles paused while Disney reconsidered its approach to live-action remakes, amid concerns about audience fatigue and shifting public perception.
Early casting discussions added another twist to the film’s development. At one stage, Scarlett Johansson was reportedly being considered to portray Mother Gothel, Rapunzel’s manipulative adoptive mother and the story’s central villain. The possibility of Johansson stepping into the role generated widespread conversation among fans curious to see the Marvel star tackle one of Disney’s more complex antagonists.
However, it was recently confirmed that Agatha All Along and The Studio actress, Kathryn Hahn, will star in the live-action movie as Mother Gothel. The Hollywood star took to Instagram to announce her casting of the iconic villain, which had been long-rumored. Tony Award-winner Donna Murphy voiced the character in the 2010 Disney animation.
For audiences, the big question is whether this new version of Tangled can capture the spirit that made the original film so popular. Disney’s live-action strategy has produced mixed results in recent years, though the company still demonstrated major box office strength with the billion-dollar success of Lilo & Stitch (2025).
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