In a move that has sent shockwaves through Hollywood, Disney has indefinitely paused its live-action remake of the 2010 animated hit Tangled, a decision that comes on the heels of the disastrous box-office performance of its Snow White live-action adaptation in March 2025. The studio, once a powerhouse of nostalgia-driven remakes, now faces growing skepticism about its strategy of reimagining animated classics, as audience fatigue, critical backlash, and cultural controversies threaten to derail its once-lucrative formula. This article explores the reasons behind the Tangled pause, the fallout from Snow White, and what this means for Disney’s future in the live-action remake space as of May 2025.

The Rise and Fall of Disney’s Live-Action Remake Empire

Disney’s live-action remake strategy began in earnest in the 2010s, capitalizing on nostalgia to bring beloved animated classics to new generations. Films like Beauty and the Beast (2017), which grossed $1.26 billion worldwide, and The Lion King (2019), which earned $1.66 billion, demonstrated the potential of this model, blending cutting-edge CGI with familiar stories to create box-office juggernauts. Even less critically acclaimed remakes like Aladdin (2019) managed to rake in over $1 billion globally. For a while, it seemed Disney had found a foolproof formula: take a cherished animated film, add A-list stars and modern visuals, and watch the profits roll in.

However, cracks began to appear as the 2020s progressed. While some remakes like The Jungle Book (2016) were praised for their innovation, others, such as Dumbo (2019) and Pinocchio (2022), failed to resonate with audiences, grossing far below expectations. The 2023 live-action The Little Mermaid, despite earning $570 million worldwide, underperformed relative to its $240 million budget and faced racist backlash in markets like China and South Korea over the casting of Black actress Halle Bailey as Ariel. By 2024, Mufasa: The Lion King managed a modest $720 million globally but fell short of its billion-dollar predecessor, signaling a decline in audience enthusiasm. These mixed results set the stage for the catastrophic release of Snow White in March 2025, which has now claimed Tangled as its first casualty.

The Snow White Debacle: A Perfect Storm of Controversy

Snow White, released on March 21, 2025, was poised to be a cornerstone of Disney’s 2025 slate, with a reported production budget of $270 million and an additional $100 million in marketing costs. Starring Rachel Zegler as Snow White and Gal Gadot as the Evil Queen, the film aimed to reimagine the 1937 classic for a modern audience. Instead, it became a lightning rod for controversy, grossing a mere $70 million domestically and $146 million globally by early April—far short of breaking even.

The film’s troubles began long before its release. Zegler, a Latina actress, faced racist criticism for her casting as the traditionally fair-skinned Snow White, echoing the backlash Bailey experienced with The Little Mermaid. Zegler exacerbated the situation by publicly calling the original 1937 film “weird” and its plot “outdated,” particularly criticizing the romance between Snow White and Prince Charming as a “stalker” dynamic. These comments alienated fans of the original, who felt she was disrespecting Disney’s legacy. Meanwhile, Gadot faced scrutiny for her vocal support of Israel during the ongoing Israel-Palestine conflict, drawing ire from some audiences and reportedly prompting Disney to beef up her security amid death threats.

Creative decisions further fueled the fire. Disney’s choice to use CGI to depict the Seven Dwarfs, rather than hiring actors with dwarfism, drew sharp criticism from actor Peter Dinklage and others who called it a missed opportunity for authentic representation. The son of the original 1937 film’s director, David Hand, labeled the remake “woke” and “insulting,” adding to the negative publicity. By the time Snow White hit theaters, it was already mired in controversy, and its opening weekend gross of $15.6 million—beaten by a Jason Statham thriller, A Working Man—confirmed its failure. The film’s Rotten Tomatoes score of 40% and a projected loss of over $200 million cemented its status as a disaster, prompting Disney to reassess its approach to live-action remakes.

Tangled on Hold: A Cautionary Pause

Tangled, the 2010 animated retelling of Rapunzel starring Mandy Moore and Zachary Levi, was a critical and commercial success, grossing $592.5 million worldwide against a $260 million budget. Its live-action remake, first announced in 2020, had been gaining momentum, with The Greatest Showman director Michael Gracey attached to helm the project and Thor: Love and Thunder writer Jennifer Kaytin Robinson penning the script. By early 2025, the film was in pre-production, with casting discussions underway—rumors even swirled that Sabrina Carpenter was in talks for the role of Rapunzel, though actress Avantika faced racist backlash for being fan-casted in the part.

However, on April 3, 2025, The Hollywood Reporter broke the news that Disney had paused development on Tangled, a decision widely attributed to the fallout from Snow White. Studio insiders revealed that the project’s future is uncertain, with no clear timeline for resumption or whether it will undergo a creative overhaul. The pause reflects Disney’s growing caution about its live-action remake strategy, as the studio grapples with the financial and reputational risks exposed by Snow White.

The decision to halt Tangled has sparked mixed reactions. Some fans expressed relief on platforms like X, with posts suggesting that Disney’s recent remakes have “lost the thread of Disney magic.” Others were disappointed, viewing Tangled as one of the more promising projects in Disney’s remake pipeline. The pause also raises questions about the studio’s upcoming live-action slate, including Lilo & Stitch and Moana, set for release within the next year and a half. Disney is likely to closely monitor the reception of these films to determine the fate of Tangled and other planned remakes like Hercules, Robin Hood, and Bambi.

Why Tangled Became a Casualty

Tangled’s indefinite hold can be attributed to several factors, with Snow White’s failure serving as the catalyst. First, the financial risk of live-action remakes has become increasingly apparent. Snow White’s $270 million budget, inflated by the 2023 Hollywood strikes, highlights the rising costs of these productions, which often rely on expensive CGI and high-profile talent to attract audiences. When a film underperforms as drastically as Snow White did, the losses are staggering, forcing studios to reconsider similar projects. Tangled, with its need for elaborate visuals to depict Rapunzel’s magical hair and the fantastical Kingdom of Corona, would likely have carried a comparable budget, making it a risky venture in the current climate.

Second, audience fatigue with live-action remakes has reached a tipping point. Disney’s relentless output of remakes—seven in the 2020s alone, three of which (Mufasa: The Lion King, Snow White, and Pinocchio) earned Rotten scores on Rotten Tomatoes—has led to diminishing returns. Audiences are growing weary of what some on X have called “unnecessary” reimaginings, especially when they fail to capture the charm of the originals. Snow White’s poor reception, coupled with the lukewarm response to The Little Mermaid and Mufasa, suggests that nostalgia alone is no longer enough to guarantee success.

Finally, cultural controversies have made live-action remakes a minefield for Disney. Tangled itself faced early backlash over casting rumors, with Avantika’s potential involvement drawing racist criticism similar to that faced by Zegler and Bailey. Additionally, the original Tangled story touches on themes like gender roles and premarital relationships that could stir debate in a modern context, as noted by The New York Sun. Disney’s missteps with Snow White—from its handling of the Seven Dwarfs to Zegler’s polarizing comments—likely made the studio wary of navigating similar controversies with Tangled.

What’s Next for Disney’s Live-Action Strategy?

The pause on Tangled signals a broader reevaluation of Disney’s live-action remake strategy. While the studio has not abandoned the model entirely—Lilo & Stitch and Moana are still on track for release in 2025 and 2026, respectively—it is clear that Disney is proceeding with caution. The performance of these upcoming films will be crucial in determining whether Tangled is revived or shelved permanently. There’s also speculation about a potential third Maleficent film, suggesting that Disney may pivot toward original live-action stories within its established universes rather than direct remakes.

Some industry observers see the Tangled pause as a positive step. ScreenRant argued that the delay allows Disney to reassess what’s going wrong with its remakes, potentially leading to more thoughtful adaptations in the future. Others, however, view it as a sign of deeper issues within the studio, which has struggled to balance nostalgia with innovation in recent years. The mixed track record of Disney’s remakes—ranging from billion-dollar hits to costly flops—underscores the need for a more strategic approach, one that prioritizes creativity over formulaic nostalgia.

A Wake-Up Call for Disney

The Snow White disaster and the subsequent pause on Tangled serve as a wake-up call for Disney, highlighting the risks of over-relying on a single strategy. The studio must address the root causes of its recent failures: escalating budgets, audience fatigue, and the cultural sensitivities that come with reimagining beloved stories for a modern audience. While Snow White may find a second life on Disney+, as Encanto did after a modest theatrical run, its theatrical failure has already left a lasting mark on the studio’s plans.

For fans of Tangled, the pause is a disappointing but perhaps necessary step. The 2010 film remains a beloved classic, and any remake would need to justify its existence beyond mere nostalgia. As Disney navigates this challenging period in May 2025, the hope is that the studio will learn from its mistakes, focusing on quality over quantity and ensuring that future live-action projects honor the magic of their animated predecessors while offering something genuinely new. Until then, Rapunzel’s live-action journey remains on hold, a casualty of a strategy in desperate need of reimagining.