Numerous years of rumors, speculation, and fan casting daydreams have come to an official end, as Walt Disney Pictures has officially announced its starring cast in the forthcoming live-action version of Tangled, a cultural icon in the Disney canon. Disney revealed on January 7, 2026, that Teagan Croft will star as Rapunzel, with Milo Manheim cast as Flynn Rider, who will bring the two to life in the middle of the 2010 animated fairy tale.
The news is a significant milestone to the much-hyped production, months in the pipeline and signifying that Disney is still investing in live-action films that have led to remakes of its animated franchises. This is the full list of details we have thus far – and my thoughts on what this casting will entail to the movie, the franchise, and the overall creative decision-making of Disney.
Casting Confirmed: Who Spends the Night in the Live-Action Tangled
According to the official release of Disney, the following key casting choices are validated:
Rapunzel — Teagan Croft
- Croft is an Australian actress who is primarily known as Raven (Rachel Roth) in Titans, the live-action DC series, and featured in films, including True Spirit.
- Like Rapunzel, she will be the inquisitive, spiritually charged, and autonomous protagonist of the animated film (first voiced by Mandy Moore in the 2010 film).
Flynn Rider — Milo Manheim
- Manheim is a Disney Channel comedy star, and then he went on to star in TV and movies, such as a lead in a Paramount+ series, School Spirits.
- Being cast as Flynn Rider, the lovable, hesitant protagonist whose voice is originally performed by Zachary Levi, is an indication that Disney desires musicality, as well as character attraction, in the character.
No filming of the two roles has taken place in public and Disney has not declared the date of the movie. Filming will start as early as the middle of 2026 and will most probably be released in the theater by 2027 or later.
Creative Team Behind the Film
The live-action Tangled will be directed by Michael Gracey, whose previous credits include The Greatest Showman, a musical that demonstrated his ability to blend spectacle and emotion.
The screenplay is penned by Jennifer Kaytin Robinson, known for her work on Do Revenge and contributions to Thor: Love and Thunder.
The production continues Disney’s strategic approach of turning beloved animated properties into live-action storytelling adventures, a trend that has yielded colossal box office returns on films like Beauty and the Beast, Aladdin, The Lion King, The Little Mermaid, and, more recently, Lilo & Stitch.
What Tangled Means to Disney and Fans
Originally released in 2010, Tangled reimagined the classic Rapunzel fairy tale with a mix of humor, action, and heart, telling the story of a sheltered princess longing for freedom and the rogue thief who helps her escape to see the world and the lanterns that light the sky every year. It earned nearly $600 million worldwide at the box office and introduced enduring songs that became fan favorites.
The shift to live-action has been a core part of Disney’s strategy to leverage nostalgia while reinventing stories for new audiences. The move follows a long line of adaptations, some beloved, some controversial and Tangled carries with it a history of strong fan affection and high expectations.
Casting Industry and Fan Buzz: Reactions
The news about the casting was met with excitement by Disney fans and industry insiders. The internet chatter immediately burst forth with accolades on both the hiring of Croft and Manheim, their youth and versatility, and their ability to fit into the archetypal roles.
The Tangled live-action remake has been talked about on social media for a long time, and forums and video game discussions support this idea. Certain fans rejoiced at the fact that relatively new actors were cast, and got an opportunity to have new actors reinterpret popular characters. Yet, others kept lists of dream casts, featuring some of the most famous actors, which serves as a reminder of the fact how obsessed fans are with this franchise.
Challenges Ahead: Expectations and Creative Risks
Despite the enthusiasm, Tangled’s transition to live-action isn’t without its challenges. The landscape for remakes has evolved significantly, and recent entries like Snow White faced critical and commercial headwinds demonstrating that not all classic titles translate seamlessly to this format.
Key questions facing this adaptation include:
Will Tangled Keep Its Musical Heart?
The animated original has its music, with which songs such as: When Will My Life Begin? and I See the Light are known. The question that fans will be eager to answer is whether the live-action movie is able to revive these sounds or bring in new musical elements, which can be used to identify the movie.
Are New Actors up to Iconic Roles?
Teagan Croft and Milo Manheim are coming with solid resumes, but with the necessity to fill iconic voicework by Mandy Moore and Zachary Levi. They will be essential in transforming Rapunzel and Flynn to a new generation with their chemistry, vocal, and presence on screen.
What Will Viewers Think of Changes to the Story?
Another aspect of live-action adaptation is the creative reinterpretation, but too much departure from the magic of the original can be viewed as wary by the fans. The development team is required to balance between homage and innovation.
Industry Environment: Disney Live-Action Strategy
The overall live-action plan of Disney is also developing:
Blockbuster Remakes: Since such titles as The Lion King and Beauty and the Beast have earned their company over 1 billion at the global box office, the model has been profitable.
Course Corrections: Not all remakes have been soaring. Snow White performed poorly compared to the expectation, which shows the dangers of this strategy.
New Frontiers: In addition to remakes, Disney is also making investments in sequels, spin-offs and creative reinventions that broaden the universe to appeal to both nostalgic and new fans.
Tangled stands at this intersection, between being a love letter to a beloved animated brand and an experiment of how reinvention, legacy and expectation can be considered balanced.
Perspective of the Editor: Why This Casting is Important
In terms of the entertainment editorial perspective, this casting announcement is important for a number of reasons:
Fresh Faces, Renewed Energy
It is a wise decision to use relatively young yet talented actors such as Croft and Manheim. It makes the main characters real and enables them to develop with viewers, instead of having the use of known celebrities whose presence may eclipse the storyline.
Reinvention Opportunity
Live-action versions are the most successful since they do not just copy animated frames, but are a reinterpretation of characters with deeper emotion and contemporary sensitivities. There are signs that Tangled might pull in such a direction with its team of creators.
Potential in Music and Storytelling
Since Gracey has worked on musical drama (The Greatest Showman) and Robinson has tried to keep to the style of a modern writer, there is a chance that this movie might become a touching adventure with unforgettable performances that would remember the original.
Nevertheless, there also exists a danger that the movie is overly nostalgic without adequate updating of elements of the narrative to the modern filmgoing audiences – a formula that Disney will have to walk a fine line.
Prospectus: Manufacturing and Projections
It is likely that a production commencement will be in mid-2026, and the main shooting location will be in England. More casting decisions are expected to be announced, including Mother Hotel, who was reportedly going to play a part but dropped out because of schedule differences.
Although there has been no proclaimed release date, industry pundits are predicting a theatrical release date of 2027, which fits in with the Disney tradition of releasing its major projects apart from each other to prevent filling up the calendar.