Live Action ‘Tangled’ Movie In The Works

As per Deadline, Tangled is getting the live action treatment from Michael Gracey, the director of The Greatest Showman and Better Man. Whilst not much is yet known about the project, it is being reported that the story will follow very closely to that of the original animated movie, with a seemingly almost identical plot.

Jennifer Kaytin Robinson, the writer behind Thor: Love And Thunder and Netflix’s Do Revenge as well as the upcoming remake of remake pseudo-sequel of Sony’s I Know What You Did Last Summer has penned the first draft of a script for the picture.

There is no word yet on who will be playing any of the characters. But following the incredibly popular rise of a certain mega pop star this year and considering the fact that she has been fan-casted as Rapunzel for many years, as well as taking into account the fact that fellow pop star Ariana Grande achieved her dream role as Glinda in both Wicked movies a few years ago, it wouldn’t be surprising to see Disney consider Sabrina Carpenter for the lead role of Rapunzel.

This trend aligns with Disney’s strategy of capitalising on nostalgia while introducing beloved stories to a new generation through a modern lens. Films like The Lion King, Aladdin, and Beauty and the Beast have all been massive box office successes, demonstrating the enduring appeal of these stories. For Disney, the live-action format revitalises these classics by expanding on their worlds, characters, and themes with a fresh aesthetic and more nuanced storytelling.

Tangled is a natural fit for this remake trend due to its existing popularity and narrative richness. The original 2010 film was a milestone for Disney, blending traditional fairytale elements with modern humor, music, and a strong, independent female lead in Rapunzel. Its stunning animation, memorable songs like “I See the Light,” and dynamic character chemistry between Rapunzel and Flynn Rider make it an ideal candidate for a live-action reinterpretation. Moreover, the film’s expansive world-building and visually striking settings, such as Rapunzel’s tower and the kingdom of Corona, are ripe for a detailed and immersive live-action adaptation.

The live-action Tangled will likely aim to retain the charm and warmth of the original while leveraging advanced technology and a more grounded aesthetic to appeal to both longtime fans and new viewers. If successful, it could reaffirm Disney’s strategy of live-action remakes as both a creative and financial win.

Comparisons to the upcoming How to Train Your Dragon live-action adaptation highlight a broader issue: studios are sticking closely to the original scripts and animated versions, avoiding significant deviations after backlash from experimental choices, such as the reception to Snow White’s modernised story. Whilst this isn’t surprising, it’s disappointing when even if they don’t want to fully create new elements of stories, they are already based on existing books and ideas that they can follow more closely or choose to bring in elements from the source material that weren’t in the original animated adaptations and utilise the live action format to be able to showcase these unseen-on-screen aspects.

Fans of Tangled should expect the remake to mirror the original film almost exactly, especially given its already beloved narrative and characters. While this formula ensures box office success, it also underscores Disney’s increasingly ‘safe’ approach to these projects, which some argue has grown complacent.

The diminishing creativity in these remakes has raised concerns about Disney prioritising profit over innovation. Despite this, Tangled‘s strong foundation and fanbase virtually guarantee a hit, even if the remake doesn’t strive for the magic and originality that characterised earlier efforts.

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