Update: Scarlett Johansson Is Disney’s Top Pick for Live-Action ‘Tangled’
There’s always a sense of curiosity—and controversy—when Disney dives into its vault to reimagine a beloved animated film. And over the last decade, that strategy has paid off more often than not.
Despite mixed reviews, titles like The Lion King, Aladdin, and Beauty and the Beast delivered massive box office returns, each grossing over $1 billion worldwide. Those successes helped solidify Disney’s live-action remakes as a bankable formula—until the model began to show cracks.
This year’s Snow White reboot landed with a thud, drawing headlines less for its creative merits than for the firestorm surrounding its lead, Rachel Zegler.
The film cost up to $270 million to make but grossed just $205.7 million, making it one of Disney’s most expensive underperformers in recent memory. Online backlash intensified following Zegler’s remarks about the 1937 animated classic, followed by further controversy as she and co-star Gal Gadot publicly clashed over the Israeli–Palestinian conflict.
‘Tangled’ Joins the List of Stalled Projects
In the wake of Snow White’s failure, Disney hit pause on several future live-action remakes not already in production. Projects like Lilo & Stitch and Moana remained on track, but the planned remake of Tangled was shelved.
The studio had been developing a live-action version of the 2010 animated hit, with The Greatest Showman director Michael Gracey attached and a script by Thor: Love and Thunder co-writer Jennifer Kaytin Robinson. Casting speculation had been building for months, with Florence Pugh rumored to be Disney’s top choice for Rapunzel. Sabrina Carpenter and Avantika were also said to be in the mix.
Meanwhile, fans had their own ideas for the villainous Mother Gothel. Kathryn Hahn was a frequent suggestion, though no official casting had been confirmed—until now.
Scarlett Johansson Was in Talks to Play Gothel
According to noted film scooper @MyTimeToShineHello, Scarlett Johansson was Disney’s top choice to play Mother Gothel before the project was shelved.
“Before the project was put on hold, Scarlett Johansson was in talks to play Mother Gothel in the live action Tangled movie.”
Before the project was put on hold, Scarlett Johansson was in talks to play Mother Gothel in the live action Tangled movie pic.twitter.com/dWpnaO0i0t
— MyTimeToShineHello (@MyTimeToShineH) July 5, 2025
The casting would have marked a major reunion between Johansson and Disney. Best known for her decade-long run as Natasha Romanoff in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Johansson had a famously rocky split with the studio during the pandemic after filing a lawsuit over the streaming release of Black Widow. The two parties eventually settled, and Johansson is now attached to star in a film inspired by Disney’s Twilight Zone Tower of Terror attraction.
The Tangled role would also have potentially reunited her with Pugh, who played her character’s sister Yelena Belova in Black Widow. The pair’s bond as Red Room-trained assassins formed the emotional backbone of the film, and their onscreen chemistry could have carried over into a darker, more twisted dynamic between Rapunzel and Gothel.
For now, the future of Tangled remains uncertain. But following the box office success of Lilo & Stitch, Disney may yet revisit the project. If that happens, fans may still get to hear Johansson’s take on “Mother Knows Best”—this time, with a tower and a whole lot of hair.
Do you think Scarlett Johansson is a good pick for Mother Gothel?
