For months, industry chatter suggested Disney had finally pumped the brakes on its live-action princess remakes. Executives, some speculated, were wary after a high-profile project failed to capture the cultural lightning the studio had once bottled so reliably.
The shift in tone followed years of mixed results. Films like Aladdin (2019) and Beauty and the Beast (2017) crossed the billion-dollar mark, while The Little Mermaid (2023) sparked debate but held its own financially. Yet when Disney’s crown jewel, Snow White, returned to the big screen in 2025, the reception was anything but royal.
Disney’s ‘Snow White’ Disaster
Marketed as the studio’s most ambitious remake, Snow White instead became a cautionary tale. The film starred Rachel Zegler as the titular princess and Gal Gadot as the Evil Queen, but struggled with both critics and audiences.
Among the sticking points were Zegler’s promotional remarks, which some fans interpreted as dismissive of the 1937 classic. Updates to the story (such as the removal of the prince) and characters drew accusations of being too modern, while reliance on CGI gave the film an artificial sheen. Reviews were tepid, and global box office earnings stalled at $205.7 million — far below expectations for such a marquee title.
The fallout was swift. Disney pulled the plug on several projects still in development, including a planned live-action Tangled. At the time, shelving the Rapunzel story looked like a clear sign the studio wanted to distance itself from the remake discourse.
‘Tangled’ Finds New Life
That assumption no longer holds. Months after Lilo & Stitch (2025) soared to the top of the box office, Disney is quietly revisiting Tangled.
Reports indicate that the project has resumed early development. Scarlett Johansson, once floated as Mother Gothel, remains in consideration, a prospect already sparking debate given her Marvel pedigree and prior collaborations with the studio.
Michael Gracey, who directed The Greatest Showman (2017), is still attached to direct. A script is being penned by Jennifer Kaytin Robinson, whose credits include Thor: Love and Thunder (2022). Though Disney has not formally greenlit the film, its revival signals the company’s confidence that Rapunzel’s story can succeed where Snow White stumbled.
Casting speculation centers on Florence Pugh, who has been widely rumored for the role of Rapunzel. Pugh, an Oscar nominee and established Marvel star, has the pedigree and studio ties to anchor such a project. Disney Channel alum Sabrina Carpenter has also been linked, while JoJo Siwa and Gigi Hadid auditioned during earlier rounds. Hadid later shared that she took “extensive voice lessons” for the role but expected the studio would favor a seasoned singer.
As for Flynn Rider, the charming thief who aids Rapunzel’s escape, no leading contender has emerged. Actor Danny Ramirez fueled online buzz when he tagged Disney directly on X, formerly known as Twitter, signaling his interest.
Yo @Disney
Yo @Disney https://t.co/RONmJZDJbH
— Danny Ramirez (@DannyRamirez) October 9, 2025
If the remake moves forward, Disney will face pressure to deliver a faithful yet modernized version of the beloved 2010 animated film. That original earned $590 million worldwide, introduced an enduring songbook that included “I See the Light,” and established itself as a contemporary Disney classic.
Disney’s Princess Playbook
The push to revive Tangled underscores the broader pattern driving Disney’s strategy. Princess adaptations remain central to the studio’s live-action pipeline, even as audience fatigue and critical skepticism grow.
Some entries have been celebrated for their adherence to tradition — Cinderella (2015) earned strong reviews for its restrained update — while others, like The Little Mermaid, became lightning rods for cultural commentary. The balance between honoring the originals and refreshing them for modern audiences has proved increasingly difficult to strike.
With Tangled back on the table, attention now shifts to other potential projects. The Princess and the Frog, Pocahontas, and Frozen remain untouched, though each carries unique challenges in adapting to live action.
For now, Disney appears committed to betting that the magic of its princess catalog — when handled carefully — can still deliver both nostalgia and box office results. Whether Tangled will be the project to restore confidence in the remake formula may depend less on its towers and hair than on the studio’s willingness to learn from Snow White’s missteps.
What are your thoughts on the live-action Snow White?
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