In 2026, coming to theaters near you, Tangled live action will be making its first appearance on the big screen. In 2010, Disney released the animated Rapunzel story with global success.
A worldwide box office income of $592 million made Tangled the eighth-highest-grossing film of 2010. Tangled will join a growing list of live action remakes in the Disney lineup. After successful releases of animal-centered remakes like The Lion King and One Hundred and One Dalmatians, Disney added nearly 20 other live action remakes.
Recent remakes have generated controversy due to casting that challenges expectations. Specifically, Disney has cast characters of different races to play roles represented as white in the animated versions.
In the remake of The Little Mermaid, the actor Halle Bailey was cast to play Ariel. An upcoming remake of Snow White will feature a Latina actor as the title character. There are obvious differences between these originals and their remakes.
I personally believe that changing the character’s ethnicity did not change Disney’s ability to focus on the traditional plot of the movie. I’m sure that the live action Tangled will succeed in telling a great story, as well.
In the animated version of Tangled, Rapunzel is a young girl with long, flowing golden hair. Rapunzel’s hair was a main driving force on the movie’s plot and was even featured on the cover of some adaptations of the movie.
Despite internet rumors that Tangled producers were casting an African American actor in the lead part, Florence Pugh will play Rapunzel. A widespread hoax claimed that Jada Pinkett Smith, known for roles in Bad Moms, Girls Trip, and The Matrix Resurrections, would lead the cast. Instead, Pugh, an English actor, will play Rapunzel. Many fans are very opinionated about how their favorite childhood princesses are depicted in live action versions.
Some fans are completely agreeable with changes and think inclusion is necessary especially when it comes to the unrealistic characteristics of the Disney princesses. Tangled won’t challenge expectations but will likely continue the tradition of Disney box office success
