Surprise! Disney Recreates ‘Tangled’s Flynn Rider for Live-Action ‘Snow White’
Disney’s latest live-action venture, Snow White, has finally hit theaters, allowing audiences to experience the film that has sparked intense debate for years. With a modernized take on the classic 1937 animated feature, the film introduces major changes—including a reworked storyline, the removal of the traditional Prince, and a reimagining of the dwarf characters. Now, moviegoers can judge for themselves whether the choices made by Disney, director Marc Webb, and stars Rachel Zegler and Gal Gadot pay off.
Among the most talked-about aspects of Snow White is the introduction of a new love interest: Jonathan, played by Under the Banner of Heaven star Andrew Burnap. Unlike the classic Prince, Jonathan is a bandit and thief with a penchant for stealing from the Evil Queen’s palace and redistributing the riches to those in need. The character’s roguish charm and mischievous attitude have drawn immediate comparisons to Flynn Rider from 2010’s Tangled—a similarity that may present a challenge for Disney as it moves forward with its upcoming live-action Tangled adaptation.
Rachel Zegler herself acknowledged the connection in an interview with D23 Magazine (via X), saying, “I think people aren’t expecting the humor that Andrew’s character, Jonathan, will bring to the story. […] I think the most comparable character would be Flynn Rider in Tangled.”
The resemblance raises an intriguing question: will Disney reinvent Flynn Rider for the Tangled remake, or will the character feel redundant? Late last year, Variety reported that a live-action Tangled was officially in development, with The Greatest Showman director Michael Gracey in talks to helm the film and Jennifer Kaytin Robinson (Thor: Love and Thunder, Do Revenge) set to pen the script. No casting has been announced yet, but with Jonathan in Snow White mirroring Flynn’s personality, Disney may need to elevate the live-action Flynn Rider even more.
Of course, Snow White is just the latest in a long line of live-action Disney remakes—some major box office triumphs and others less successful. Films like 2017’s Beauty and the Beast and Jon Favreau’s The Lion King crossed the billion-dollar mark, while Pinocchio (2022) and Alice Through the Looking Glass (2016) failed to connect with audiences. More recent adaptations, such as Peter Pan & Wendy (2023) and The Little Mermaid (2023), have also become focal points of cultural and political discourse, and Snow White has followed a similar path.
Controversy surrounding Snow White dates back to 2021, when Zegler and Gadot were officially cast. Much like the debates over Halle Bailey’s portrayal of Ariel, Zegler’s casting as the iconic princess sparked backlash, with some criticizing Disney’s departure from the original portrayal of the character. Additional scrutiny arose after Zegler’s comments about the film’s feminist direction, including her statement that the Prince, whom she described as “stalking” Snow White, would not be part of the narrative.
Further discourse erupted over Disney’s handling of the seven dwarfs, with mixed reactions from the dwarfism community. Some criticized Disney for making the film in the first place, while others took issue with the studio’s choice to use CGI rather than hiring actors with dwarfism for the roles.
Despite the scaled-back marketing campaign and modified premiere events in both Europe and North America, Snow White officially arrived in theaters on March 21, 2025. Whether the film ultimately resonates with audiences remains to be seen, but Disney is showing no signs of slowing down its live-action pipeline.
Next up is Lilo & Stitch, set to debut in just over two months. While early reactions have been largely positive, the film has faced its own share of controversy regarding the casting of Nani, Lilo’s older sister. Looking further ahead, Disney is also developing Hercules alongside Tangled.
Will the similarities between Snow White’s Jonathan and Tangled’s Flynn Rider cause an issue for the latter’s live-action remake? Or is this just another case of Disney reusing familiar character archetypes? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!
