Tangled Live-Action Movie: Is It Happening? Everything We Know (2024)

With Disney continuing to bring their classic animated films to life on the big screen in re-imaginings and reboots, many have clamored for a Tangled live-action remake. Released in 2010, Tangled puts the Disney spin on the classic Rapunzel fairy tale and follows the familiar heroine as she attempts to escape the clutches of an evil hag who has kept her locked away because of her magical hair. An instant smash hit, Tangled added just the right amount of Disney charm to the story, and it continued the studio's return to form after a decade of hits and misses throughout the 2000s.

Alongside a positive critical reception that praised Disney's return to the classic fairy tale musical format (via Rotten Tomatoes), Tangled also scored big at the box office and grossed nearly $600 million (via Box Office Mojo). As remakes and reboots become increasingly popular in general, Disney's live-action remakes have served a multitude of purposes from addressing past criticisms to simply reintroducing their older material to a younger audience. While it has generally been a mixed bag, a Tangled live-action remake has the opportunity to reinvigorate the hit film, and simply make it an even bigger spectacle through the use of real actors as opposed to fixing what went wrong.

RELATED: Why Disney Made Tangled So Different From The Original Rapunzel Fairy Tale

Tangled Live-Action Movie Latest News

With a property as popular as Tangled, fans of the film have long been calling for Disney to give the 2010 Oscar nominee a live-action facelift. Fan casting is a way for the audiences of certain shows and movies to blow off steam, and the supposed Tangled live-action adaptation has seen its fair share of fan speculation. Though actor and vocalist Mandy Moore played the role of Rapunzel in the animated film, it was clear from the start that a live-action version would likely go to someone else when casting the fairy tale figure with the long blonde locks.

In online rumor circles, outlets like The DisInsider have reported that the front-runner to play the live-action character is actually British actor Florence Pugh. The Midsommar and Oppenheimer star has actually worked with Disney when she played Yelena Belova in the MCU's Black Widow, and she is currently one of the most in-demand talents in Hollywood today. While it is a fascinating development if it is true, the Florence Pugh casting is merely a rumor and hasn't been confirmed by any major industry news sources. The aforementioned rumor has sparked more interest in the Tangled live-action remake's possibility, which could serve to actually get the film made.

Tangled Live-Action Movie Not Confirmed

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Even as rumors swirl online regarding the casting of the Tangled live-action remake, the movie itself is not actually confirmed and hasn't been put on Disney's massive slate of upcoming films. The lifespan of the rumored film has actually been quite long, and news that Disney was developing a live-action Tangled began surfacing as far back as 2020. While there were plenty of small details to go along with that news back in 2020, it seems as if whatever that project might have been was either scrapped by Disney or put on hold indefinitely as no new information about it has resurfaced in the years since.

The Tangled live-action rumor mill started up again in earnest in August 2023 when other Disney and theme park-centric news sources such as Inside the Magic began reporting that a film was in the works. As with many other rumors, the idea gained traction online but so far has not been backed up by any announcements from Disney and hasn't been reported by any reputable industry news sources. The idea is not outside the realm of possibility, and since Tangled would make such a good live-action remake, it could happen. Disney has also doubled down on live-action remakes with recent movies like The Little Mermaid and the upcoming Moana film.

Tangled Live-Action Movie Release Date Info

Though the Tangled live-action remake is merely a rumor until more solid news comes forward, it is still possible to speculate about its production timeline. Disney has produced quite a few live-action remakes in the last decade and a half, and they have typically been massive productions with lengthy timelines. The recent remake of The Little Mermaid was a box office letdown, but its massive production budget and long timeline seemingly haven't deterred the studio from making more live-action films. The film's production finally got underway in early 2021 after a delay due to COVID-19, and it didn't hit theaters until May 2023.

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While a Tangled live-action remake wouldn't have to contend with a pandemic-style delay, it would likely be a long time coming even if it was announced before the end of 2023. Assuming production got rolling in early or mid-2024, Tangled likely wouldn't hit theaters until 2026 at the earliest. Another thing that could potentially stall a remake would be the ongoing strikes within the WGA and SAG who have both specifically called out studios like Disney for their unfair treatment. by the strike, and it could be assumed that many other projects could be on the chopping block.

Tangled Live-Action Movie Cast

Despite being merely a rumor, the Tangled live-action remake has found quite a bit of traction online and has even gotten the attention of a star from the animated film. Aside from the speculation surrounding Florence Pugh playing the lead role of Rapunzel, Zachary Levi could consider a Tangled live-action return as well. Levi provided the voice of the film's not-so-dashing leading man Flynn Rider, and he has fully embraced his legacy as one of Disney's most interesting "prince" characters in their illustrious catalog. When speaking at the 2023 Fan Expo in Chicago, Levi admitted that he "would love…to do another iteration".

However, despite his enthusiasm, Levi also qualified his statements by mentioning that it was the Florence Pugh casting rumors that truly sparked his interest in reprising Rider and that he is "not 24" like the character. Levi acknowledged the somewhat problematic aspects of Flynn Rider's age in Tangled and mentioned "Rapunzel is 17 turning 18. And, uh, I don’t know…not that I haven’t been younged down for some other roles, but I don’t know". As has been the case with many of Disney's live-action remakes, Tangled would likely go to an entirely new cast even if someone like Levi was interested in reprising.

Tangled Live-Action Movie Story Details

Some of Disney's live-action remakes have been literal adaptations, while others have taken the key ideas and expanded on them. A Tangled live-action remake would likely follow the first strategy and see Rapunzel as she meets the dashing Flynn Rider who takes refuge in her tower. Seeking to escape the clutches of Mother Gothel who keeps her trapped, Rapunzel goes on a whirlwind adventure with the bandit and learns that the magic within her hair isn't as important as what's in her heart. While nothing is confirmed officially, the exciting story of the original film would be perfect fodder for a Tangled live-action remake with very little change.