In a move that has sent shockwaves through Hollywood, Disney has abruptly slammed the brakes on its live-action adaptation of Tangled, the beloved 2010 animated hit, as the fallout from the disastrous Snow White remake continues to unravel the studio’s ambitious remake strategy. The decision, confirmed by Variety and corroborated by studio insiders, comes amid a torrent of dismal box office returns and unrelenting criticism of Snow White, a film once heralded as a feminist triumph but now branded an “epic fail” by industry watchers. As Disney scrambles to salvage its reputation, the pause on Tangled raises dire questions about the future of its live-action empire—and whether the Mouse House has lost its magic touch.
The Tangled project, inspired by the Rapunzel fairy tale, was poised to be a crown jewel in Disney’s remake roster. With The Greatest Showman director Michael Gracey attached to helm and Thor: Love and Thunder screenwriter Jennifer Kaytin Robinson crafting the script, the film had been in active development, promising to weave a fresh take on the lantern-lit romance of Rapunzel and Flynn Rider. Yet, just as pre-production gears were turning, Disney pulled the plug—indefinitely shelving the project with no clear timeline for revival. The reason? A catastrophic misstep with Snow White that’s left the studio reeling and rethinking its entire playbook.
Snow White’s Fall from Grace
Disney’s live-action Snow White, starring Rachel Zegler and released in March 2025, was meant to be a bold reimagining of the 1937 classic—a tale of empowerment for a new generation. Instead, it’s become a cautionary tale of hubris and miscalculation. Plagued by controversy from the start—Zegler’s dismissal of the original’s romance as “creepy” and the replacement of dwarves with a “diverse” ensemble drew ire—the film stumbled out of the gate with a global opening weekend haul of just $87 million against a reported $250–270 million budget. By early April, its worldwide gross languished below $150 million, a far cry from the billion-dollar benchmarks set by predecessors like The Lion King (2019).
Critics savaged the film, with reviews decrying its “preachy tone” and “forced modernity.” Audiences, too, stayed away in droves, voicing discontent on X with sentiments like “Disney ruined Snow White” and “Woke flop alert.” The backlash wasn’t just financial—South Park’s brutal parody, “Snow White and the Seven Pronouns,” aired last week, amplifying the ridicule and cementing the film’s status as a cultural punching bag. For Disney, the numbers tell a grim story: Snow White is on track to lose upwards of $100 million, a rare and humiliating defeat for a studio accustomed to box office dominance.
Tangled in the Crossfire
The collateral damage to Tangled is as swift as it is stark. Studio insiders, speaking anonymously to Variety, confirmed that the pause was a direct response to Snow White’s implosion. “Disney’s spooked,” one source admitted. “They poured everything into Snow White—money, marketing, messaging—and it crashed hard. Now they’re second-guessing every live-action project in the pipeline.” Another insider hinted at a broader reckoning: “Tangled was next in line, but after this? They’re hitting pause until they figure out what went wrong.”
The decision has left the Tangled team in limbo. Gracey, known for his visually dazzling touch, and Robinson, a seasoned scribe, had reportedly been deep into script revisions and casting discussions. Rumors swirled of potential stars—names like Sabrina Carpenter and Timothée Chalamet floated online—but no deals were inked before the halt. For the cast and crew, the news is a bitter pill. “It’s devastating,” a production assistant told this reporter. “We were ready to bring something special, and now it’s on ice because of someone else’s mess.”
A Crossroads for the Mouse
As April 9 dawns, Disney stands at a crossroads. The Tangled pause is more than a logistical hiccup—it’s a referendum on a strategy teetering on the edge. Can the studio recapture the magic that once defined its remakes, or has it pushed too far into uncharted territory? “They need to listen to fans,” Torres urged. “Not every classic needs a lecture hall twist.”
For now, Tangled languishes in limbo, its fate tied to Disney’s ability to course-correct. The coming months will test the studio’s resilience—and its willingness to confront hard truths. As one X user put it: “Disney’s tangled up in its own mess. Time to cut the hair and start over.”
Whether Tangled emerges from the ashes—or joins Snow White in the annals of cautionary tales—remains to be seen. But one thing is clear: The magic kingdom’s crown is slipping, and the world is watching.
The future of “Tangled” lies in the balance, and it remains unclear if Disney will revive the film at some point in the future, or if this abrupt hold is effectively the end for the production.
The original version of the film in generated nearly $600 million worldwide when it was released in 2010-2011, according to Variety. The movie was nominated for an Oscar for Best Original Song, and rated favorably on Rotten Tomatoes.
Disney didn’t indicate what prompted them to halt on this particular title, but they’re currently reeling form the $69 million generated by “Snow White,” in the face of the film.
It seems the entertainment giant will push forward with “Lilo and Stitch” set to be released May 23, and “Moana” which is slated to open in theaters July 10.
