After ‘Snow White’s’ Struggles, Disney Delays ‘Tangled’ Live-Action Reboot
It’s been fifteen years since Disney released Tangled, a beloved animated film based on the Brothers Grimm’s story of Rapunzel. This movie, which introduced the world to the magical-haired princess and her thrilling escape from an isolated tower, quickly captured the hearts of audiences, grossing nearly $600 million globally at the box office.
However, the recent wave of live-action remakes of classic Disney films has left fans wondering about the future of Tangled in its live-action form.
Related: New ‘Tangled’ Show In the Works at Disney!
Fans were hopeful when Disney announced plans to remake Tangled in live-action in 2020. The news didn’t come as a surprise, as Disney had been successfully reimagining its animated classics for a new generation, beginning with Alice in Wonderland in 2010, and continuing with Cinderella (2015), Beauty and the Beast (2017), and The Lion King (2019).
However, the Tangled live-action remake announcement came with few details and remained largely in limbo for several years.
Fast-forward to December 2024, when Disney announced that The Greatest Showman (2017) director Michael Gracey would helm the live-action Tangled remake, with Thor: Love and Thunder (2022) co-writer Jennifer Kaytin Robinson attached to pen the script.
Excitement surged among fans, eager to see how the magical world of Rapunzel and Flynn Rider would be reimagined on the big screen.
But just as quickly as excitement built, it has now fizzled out, as Disney has decided to put the live-action Tangled remake on indefinite pause. And according to reports, the decision is tied to the underwhelming performance of Disney’s latest live-action adaptation, Snow White.
The Snow White live-action remake had a difficult road ahead from the start. Plagued by controversial casting and creative choices, the film failed to live up to its $270 million production budget. Despite the studio’s best efforts, the movie only grossed $69 million domestically and $145 million worldwide.
Related: Fans Criticize Rachel Zegler’s Remarks on Snow White’s Box Office Performance
To make matters worse, Snow White received a lukewarm reception from both critics and audiences. It currently holds a 50% rating on Metacritic, with audiences giving it a disappointing B+ on Cinemascore—a grade that indicates dissatisfaction.
According to an exclusive report from The Hollywood Reporter:
“The pause occurs in the wake of the rather underwhelming release of Disney’s latest live-action adaptation, Snow White. The movie has grossed only $69 million domestically and $145 million worldwide on a production budget of $270 million (the budget inflated due to the 2023 labor strikes). The film was plagued by controversial headlines from the start due to casting and creative choices and then into its press tour due to social media posts from star Rachel Zegler. But Snow White didn’t fare well with the critics nor audiences, the latter of which have given it a B+ Cinemascore (anything outside the A range is considered unsatisfying). It currently only has a 50 percent on review aggregator Metacritic.”
However, Tangled isn’t the only live-action remake on Disney’s radar. The studio is still moving forward with other high-profile projects, such as the upcoming Lilo & Stitch live-action remake, slated for release on May 23, 2025. Additionally, Disney is gearing up for a live-action Moana remake, set to hit theaters in 2026, with Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson returning as Maui.
But what does this mean for Tangled fans? While the indefinite pause is disheartening, it’s clear that Disney isn’t abandoning its plans to bring beloved animated classics to life in new ways. Whether or not Tangled will eventually find its way back to the live-action screen is still unknown, but Disney’s cautious approach reflects the changing tides in the world of entertainment.
Are you disappointed to hear that Disney has paused its live-action Tangled remake? Or have you had enough of Disney’s live-action reboots? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!
