While it was initially speculated that Florence Pugh might star, it remains unclear if she’s still attached to the project.
However, many fans consider this move to be a misguided decision, as Disney's recent slate of live-action remakes has drawn considerable criticism. With Gracey coming off the success of 'Better Man', it appears he may be pursuing this project primarily for the financial rewards it offers.
'Tangled' offers a modern twist on the classic tale of Rapunzel, reviving Disney’s Oscar-nominated 2010 animated feature, which marked the studio's 50th animated film. The story follows a spirited princess with magical golden hair who escapes from her isolated tower, embarking on an adventure with a charming thief. Together, they uncover her true identity and confront the perilous truth about the woman who kept her locked away.
Despite the lukewarm receptions of previous adaptations like 'Pinocchio' (2022) and 'The Little Mermaid' (2023), Disney continues to greenlight live-action remakes at an alarming rate. In addition to 'Tangled', the studio is also developing live-action versions of 'Lilo & Stitch,' 'Moana,' 'The Princess and the Frog,' and 'Hercules'. This list doesn’t even include other projects in early development, such as 'The Hunchback of Notre Dame,' 'Aristocats,' 'The Sword in the Stone,' 'Bambi,' and 'Robin Hood.'
Actress Zoe Kazan recently voiced her frustration on social media—though her tweet has since been deleted—criticizing the relentless stream of live-action remakes and questioning Disney's commitment to quality. Kazan remarked, “D*sney has no reason to make ‘good’ live action remakes because that would render their earlier ‘product’ obsolete. It’s smarter for them to make new movies that are different but not better than the old ones.
There’s certainly merit to her perspective. The reality is that these live-action adaptations struggle to match the artistic brilliance of the original animated classics. Disney seems reluctant to innovate, as audiences generally crave familiar content rather than something groundbreaking, and this trend reflects a broader reluctance to embrace change within the beloved franchise.
