Disney’s live-action Tangled remake is reportedly back in motion after a quiet pause earlier this year — and Scarlett Johansson may soon join the project in a key villain role.
According to SuperHeroHype, Disney is once again moving ahead with the adaptation under director Michael Gracey (The Greatest Showman), with Johansson in early talks to portray Mother Gothel.
A Modern Classic Gets the Live-Action Treatment…For Better or Worse
Originally released in 2010, Tangled was one of Walt Disney Animation Studios’ biggest successes of the post-Renaissance era. Starring Mandy Moore as Rapunzel, Zachary Levi as Flynn Rider, and Donna Murphy as Mother Gothel, the film reimagined the classic Rapunzel fairy tale with Broadway-style songs, advanced CG animation, and a heartfelt emotional core.
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Given the film’s enduring popularity — and Disney’s seeming obsession with hit-or-miss remakes of its classic animated films like The Little Mermaid, Aladdin, and Beauty and the Beast — it was only a matter of time before Tangled entered the studio’s live-action pipeline. In 2024, reports confirmed Gracey had signed on to direct with a script from Jennifer Kaytin Robinson (Thor: Love and Thunder, Do Revenge).
At that time, industry observers expected Tangled to move quickly into pre-production. But that trajectory changed dramatically after one of Disney’s other high-profile fairytale revivals stumbled.
Development Stalled After the Snow White Debacle
Insiders previously claimed that Disney had paused or shelved the Tangled live-action remake in early 2025 following the controversy and disappointing box-office performance of the studio’s Snow White adaptation. That film — led by Rachel Zegler and produced under Disney’s live-action division — became a lightning rod online for months, drawing sharp criticism over its creative direction and public-relations handling.
Rachel Zegler singing the original song “Waiting on a Wish” from Disney’s Snow White live action remake – YouTube, Disney
Despite its high production budget, Snow White earned roughly $206 million worldwide — well below expectations and reportedly short of breaking even. Industry chatter at the time suggested Disney executives were re-evaluating their approach to princess-driven live-action titles, concerned that another fairytale remake might encounter similar cultural headwinds.
Rachel Zegler as Snow White in Snow White (2025), Walt Disney Studios
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As a result, Tangled, which had already been in development with Gracey and Robinson attached, was believed to have been quietly pulled from active development.
Revival and Renewed Confidence
That regrouping period appears to be over with reports that Tangled has been reactivated within Disney’s live-action pipeline. Gracey remains attached as director, and Scarlett Johansson has emerged as a frontrunner to play the manipulative Mother Gothel — the aging villain who steals Rapunzel to harness her magical hair’s youth-granting power.
Lilo and Stitch with Nani in the Live Action Lilo & Stitch movie – YouTube, IGN
The timing suggests Disney is once again ready to test audience appetite for modern fairytales, especially after this year’s Lilo & Stitch remake delivered a massive commercial rebound for the studio. That film has reportedly earned over $1 billion globally, giving Disney new confidence in its ability to re-energize familiar animated properties when handled with care.
Scarlett Johansson Eyes the Villain’s Role
Should negotiations move forward, Johansson’s casting would mark her latest high-profile return to Disney following her decade-long tenure as Black Widow in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. In 2025 alone, Johansson has balanced prestige and blockbuster projects — including The Phoenician Scheme, Jurassic World Rebirth, and Eleanor the Great, which she directed herself.
Black Widow/Natasha Romanoff (Scarlett Johansson) in Marvel Studios‘ BLACK WIDOW, in theaters and on Disney+ with Premier Access. Photo by Jay Maidment. ©Marvel Studios 2021. All Rights Reserved.
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Her potential turn as Mother Gothel could allow her to showcase a mix of charisma and menace rarely seen in her recent work, stepping into a role that blends theatrical villainy with psychological complexity. For Disney, it would bring A-list power to a project that’s already generating renewed buzz.
What It Means for Disney’s Strategy
Disney’s decision to resurrect Tangled speaks to a new, more selective approach toward its live-action remakes. While the studio has faced criticism for oversaturating the market, internal analytics reportedly show that post-2000 animated titles like Tangled and Lilo & Stitch resonate more strongly with younger streaming audiences — a demographic that remains key to Disney+ retention.
Halle Bailey as Ariel in Disney’s live-action THE LITTLE MERMAID. Photo courtesy of Disney. © 2023 Disney Enterprises, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
By focusing on these newer properties, Disney may be seeking to recapture the energy of the Frozen era rather than relying on legacy nostalgia after high-profile misses with The Little Mermaid and Snow White. If Johansson officially joins the cast and the film moves into production, Tangled could mark a pivotal test case for whether Disney can still balance brand familiarity with fresh creative direction.
Would you see a Tangled live-action remake? Sound off in the comments and let us know!
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