The Disney live-action remake machine keeps turning, and today it revealed one of its most anticipated — and riskiest — casting decisions yet. Milo Manheim, the 24-year-old actor best known for his breakout role as Zed in the Zombies franchise and his recent dramatic turn in School Spirits, has been officially cast as Flynn Rider (aka Eugene Fitzherbert) in Disney’s upcoming live-action adaptation of Tangled.

The announcement came this morning via a joint Instagram post from Manheim and Disney, featuring a single, moody black-and-white photo: Manheim in profile, long dark hair swept back, wearing a simple linen shirt, looking over his shoulder with the faintest smirk — the exact expression that made Zachary Levi’s animated Flynn an instant fan favorite in 2010. The caption read simply:

“Milo Manheim is Flynn Rider. Coming to theaters 2027. #TangledLiveAction”

Within minutes the internet ignited. The hashtag #MiloAsFlynn shot to the top of worldwide trends, splitting fans into two passionate camps: those already declaring the casting “perfect” and those insisting that no one could ever recapture the effortless charm, comedic timing, and roguish vulnerability Zachary Levi brought to the role sixteen years ago.

Manheim, however, is not backing down.

In his first extended interview since the announcement, speaking exclusively with us over video call from a quiet corner of a Los Angeles soundstage, the young actor addressed the inevitable comparisons head-on.

“I’ve watched Tangled probably fifty times since I was a kid,” he said, leaning forward with the earnest energy that has defined his public persona. “I know every beat of Flynn’s journey — the swagger that hides how lonely he is, the way he pretends he doesn’t care until the moment he realizes he cares more than anything. Zachary Levi gave that character something magical. I’m not trying to copy it. I’m trying to honor it. I will do him justice — not by imitating, but by finding my own truth inside Eugene Fitzherbert.”

The stakes are high. Tangled remains one of Disney’s most beloved modern animated classics. It grossed nearly $600 million worldwide on a $260 million budget, earned critical acclaim for its humor, heart, and visual splendor, and introduced “I See the Light” — a song that still regularly appears on wedding playlists and prom slow-dance montages. Flynn Rider, voiced by Levi, became an instant fan favorite: sarcastic, self-serving, secretly vulnerable, and — crucially — funny in a way that felt fresh and grounded rather than cartoonish. Levi’s performance is widely considered one of the best male leads in Disney animation history.

Stepping into those boots is daunting. Yet Manheim’s career trajectory suggests he may be more prepared than most skeptics realize.

Born in 2001 in Venice, California, Manheim grew up surrounded by the entertainment industry (his mother is actress Camryn Manheim). He first caught widespread attention in 2018 as Zed in Disney Channel’s Zombies, a role that required him to balance goofy charm, physical comedy, and genuine teenage longing. He reprised the role in two sequels and a live concert special, proving he could carry a franchise aimed at younger audiences while still earning respect from older viewers.

His 2023–2025 run on School Spirits marked a dramatic pivot. Playing Wally Clark — the sweet, tragic 1980s jock ghost who slowly reveals layers of pain beneath the letterman-jacket charm — Manheim earned praise for his emotional depth and quiet intensity. Critics noted that he could convey heartbreak with little dialogue, relying on subtle shifts in posture, eye contact, and silence. That skill set aligns perfectly with Flynn Rider: a man who hides fear and loneliness behind quick wit and bravado.

Director Jon M. Chu (Crazy Rich Asians, Wicked) has been vocal about wanting a Flynn who feels dangerous yet deeply lovable. “Milo has this rare combination,” Chu said in a recent Variety roundtable. “He can make you laugh in one breath and break your heart in the next. That’s Flynn. He’s a thief who’s been running from himself his whole life — until Rapunzel makes him stop.”

The film’s production has been shrouded in secrecy, but sources close to the project describe a tone that leans darker and more emotionally grounded than the 2010 animated version. Rapunzel (rumored to be played by rising star Jenna Ortega) will still have her signature 70 feet of golden hair and her lantern-lit dream, but the story is expected to explore themes of trauma, control, and self-worth with more nuance. Gothel (likely returning in some form, though no casting has been confirmed) will be portrayed less as a cartoon villain and more as a deeply damaged woman whose obsession with youth masks profound fear of abandonment.

Manheim has been training intensively for the role since early 2025. He has spent months working with stunt coordinator Philip J. Silvera (known for The Mandalorian and Spider-Man: No Way Home) to master the fluid, acrobatic fight style that made the original Flynn’s action sequences feel like choreographed dance. He has also taken vocal coaching to ensure his singing voice matches the emotional range the role demands — particularly in the film’s reimagined versions of “I’ve Got a Dream” and the iconic “I See the Light.”

“I’ve been listening to Zachary’s performance on repeat,” Manheim admitted in our interview. “Not to mimic it — to understand the spirit of it. Flynn is funny because he’s scared. He’s charming because he’s lonely. He’s brave because he has nothing left to lose. Those contradictions are what make him real. I want audiences to feel that same mix of laughter and ache when they watch this version.”

Social media reaction has been predictably polarized.

On X (formerly Twitter), #MiloAsFlynn trended worldwide within hours of the announcement. Supporters posted side-by-side photos of Manheim’s current look — tousled dark hair, mischievous smirk, athletic build — next to animated Flynn, declaring the resemblance “uncanny.” Fan edits set to “I See the Light” began circulating almost immediately.

Critics of the casting pointed to age (Manheim is significantly younger than Levi was during Tangled), arguing that Flynn’s roguish charm requires a more weathered presence. “He’s too boy-band,” one viral post read. “Flynn needs a man who’s seen some shit, not a Disney Channel kid.”

Manheim addressed the age concern directly.

“I get it,” he said. “Zachary brought this lived-in quality that came from real life experience. But Flynn isn’t supposed to be 40. In the animated film he’s written as a young man in his mid-to-late 20s who’s already wasted years running from himself. I’m 24. I’m right in that pocket. And I’ve spent the last few years playing characters who are trying to figure out who they are — just like Eugene is.”

Disney has remained tight-lipped about plot details, but leaks and set reports suggest several key departures from the 2010 film. Rapunzel’s tower will feel more isolated and claustrophobic, Gothel’s manipulation more psychologically cruel, and Flynn’s backstory will receive more screen time, including flashbacks to his childhood as an orphan in a brutal kingdom workhouse. The film will also explore the emotional aftermath of the lantern scene in greater depth, giving both leads space to show vulnerability without undercutting the adventure.

Filming is scheduled to wrap in late summer 2026, with a planned release in summer 2027 to coincide with the original Tangled’s 17th anniversary. Early test footage shown to investors reportedly features a reimagined “I’ve Got a Dream” sequence set in a grittier, more lived-in tavern, with Flynn’s boastful charm masking deeper loneliness.

For Milo Manheim, the role represents a pivotal career leap. He is no longer the teen heartthrob of Zombies; he is staking his claim as a leading man capable of carrying both action and emotional weight.

“I know people are going to compare,” he said toward the end of our conversation. “That’s okay. That’s healthy. It means the original mattered. All I can promise is that I’m going to give this everything I have. Flynn Rider deserves that. Rapunzel deserves that. And honestly? The fans deserve that.”

He paused, then smiled — a small, genuine smile that carried a hint of Flynn’s trademark mischief.

“I’m not here to replace anyone. I’m here to remind people why they fell in love with him in the first place.”

When Tangled (live-action) finally swings into theaters in 2027, audiences will get to decide whether Milo Manheim has kept that promise.

But one thing is already clear: he’s not afraid of the comparison.

And that alone may be the most Flynn Rider thing about him.