Disney has officially halted its live-action remake of the 2010 animated hit Tangled, a decision that comes on the heels of the disappointing box office performance of its Snow White remake starring Rachel Zegler. The news, first reported by The Hollywood Reporter on April 4, 2025, has sparked widespread speculation about the future of Disney’s live-action strategy and reignited debates over casting choices, with rumors of a potential “Black Rapunzel” adding fuel to the fire.
The Tangled project, which was in active development with The Greatest Showman director Michael Gracey at the helm and a script by Jennifer Kaytin Robinson (Thor: Love and Thunder), had been generating buzz among fans of the original Rapunzel-inspired musical. The 2010 animated film, featuring the voices of Mandy Moore and Zachary Levi, grossed nearly $600 million worldwide and became a beloved entry in Disney’s animated catalog. However, the live-action adaptation has now been shelved indefinitely, with studio insiders citing the lackluster reception of Snow White as a key factor.
Disney’s Snow White, released on March 21, 2025, has been a commercial and critical disappointment, earning just $146 million globally against a reported $270 million budget. The film faced controversies from the start, including backlash over its “woke” creative choices, such as the use of CGI to depict the seven dwarfs instead of hiring actors with dwarfism, and tensions between stars Rachel Zegler and Gal Gadot over their opposing views on the Israel-Palestine conflict. Zegler, a Latina actress of Colombian descent, also drew criticism for her comments on the original 1937 Snow White film, calling it “weird” and “dated,” and for her political activism, including anti-Trump remarks during the 2024 election cycle. Jonah Platt, son of Snow White producer Marc Platt, publicly blamed Zegler’s “personal politics” for hurting the film’s box office performance, further amplifying the negative press surrounding the release.
The fallout from Snow White appears to have spooked Disney executives, who are now reevaluating their approach to live-action remakes. While earlier remakes like Beauty and the Beast, Aladdin, and The Lion King were billion-dollar successes, recent efforts such as The Little Mermaid (2023) and Mufasa: The Lion King (2024) have seen diminishing returns, with Snow White marking a new low. Industry observers suggest that Disney may be shifting focus away from remakes of older classics, like the 88-year-old Snow White, and toward more recent properties with built-in modern audiences, such as the upcoming Lilo & Stitch (set for May 23, 2025) and Moana (slated for July 10, 2026).
Adding intrigue to the Tangled cancellation are unconfirmed rumors that Disney had been considering a non-traditional casting choice for Rapunzel, potentially a Black actress, which some outlets dubbed a “Black Rapunzel.” Posts on X and web sources indicate that actress Avantika, known for her role in the Mean Girls musical, was rumored to be in the running, sparking both excitement and backlash. Some fans celebrated the idea of a dark-skinned Rapunzel with long locs, calling it “hella based,” while others criticized the potential casting, arguing that Rapunzel, traditionally depicted as a blonde, white princess, should remain so. This controversy echoes similar debates over Halle Bailey’s casting as Ariel in The Little Mermaid and Zegler’s role as Snow White, highlighting ongoing tensions around diversity in Disney’s live-action remakes.
Critics of Disney’s live-action strategy argue that the studio’s formulaic approach—often prioritizing nostalgia over innovation—has led to audience fatigue. The pause on Tangled may signal a broader reckoning for Disney as it grapples with how to balance fan expectations, creative risks, and commercial viability. Some fans on X have called for Disney to abandon live-action remakes altogether, urging the studio to focus on original stories or lesser-known animated classics like The Great Mouse Detective or Robin Hood.
For now, the fate of Tangled remains uncertain. Whether Disney will revisit the project with a creative overhaul or abandon it entirely is unclear, but the cancellation underscores the challenges the studio faces in adapting its animated classics for a modern audience. As Disney navigates this turbulent period, the question remains: will the magic of its live-action remakes ever recapture the spark of its animated legacy, or has the fairy tale bubble finally burst?
