• Disney’s live-action version of Tangled is on hold
  • Tangled is a 2010 film exploring the fairytale of Rapunzel
  • The movie was a fan favorite Disney flick
live-action Tangled
Tangled (2010) Credit: Imago

Bad news for Tangled fans, the live-action Tangled remake has been put on hold. The fan favorite Disney movie was released in 2010. It tells the story of Rapunzel (Mandy Moore) and her life locked in a tower. Rapunzel’s mother, Gothel (Donna Murphy), keeps her locked in the tower to preserve her youth. Curious about the outside world, Rapunzel escapes and meets the charming thief Flynn Rider (Zachary Levi).

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Tangled was a hit for Disney and made $591 million at the worldwide box office. The live-action movie remake was announced in December 2024 by Disney. Pausing of the live-action Tangled is a surprise, since Rapunzel is one of the Disney princesses adored by fans.

However, the decision to pause the remake comes from a sensible place. Read on to find out why Disney put the live-action Tangled on hold.

Why did Disney pause the live-action Tangled development?

live-action Tangled
Zachary Levi as Flynn Rider and Mandy Moore as Rapunzel in Tangled. Credit: IMAGO/FAMOUS

Variety reported that the decision to pause the movie is because of the recent box office failure of Disney’s live-action Snow White. At the worldwide box office, Snow White has made $145 million so far. Considering the movie’s budget was $209 million, the film has flopped massively.

Regardless, Disney is continuing with several remakes, as the upcoming live-action Lilo and Stitch movie is set to hit theatres in May and the live-action Moana in 2026.

Some remakes from the House of Mouse have been successful. The live-action Lion King film made over $1 billion at the box office globally, as did the live-action Aladdin.

However, no recent remake has been plagued with as much bad press as Snow White. In fact, the press was so bad that Disney scaled back the premiere to include in-house staff and photographers only. Therefore, Disney may not want to take a risk with continuing to develop the live-action Tangled film.

Read More: Why Has Disney Pulled Back Snow White Premiere?

How did the internet react?

The internet had mixed reactions to the news. Some fans were relieved that they decided to pause the live-action Tangled film. On the other hand, some fans were upset, but the consensus was that people understood why.

One user on X thought it was because “Disney is finally realizing that the people want NEW stories/movies”.

One confused fan asked, “Why is that?” concerning why they canceled the remake.

Another fan thought the decision was sensible and meant another remake fans didn’t need to worry about.

The right movie for Disney

Live-action Tangled.
Rapunzel in Tangled (2010). Credit: IMAGO/ Allstar

One social media user agreed it was the right decision to pause production on the film. They said in a post, “That’s probably the right move for now because of how much of a disaster Snow White has been. They should listen to the fans’ concerns and proceed in making sure they are giving the best Tangled live-action.”

Jokingly, another fan wrote that the live-action Tangled was paused because “Sabrina dropped out”.

For years, fans have wanted Sabrina Carpenter to play Rapunzel because of her blonde hair and princess-like look.

A good live-action Tangled remake is possible

In contrast, one user argued that a good remake is possible with the right storyline and dynamics.

The user wrote in a post, “But they can make a good Tangled if they listen to the public, give them what they want, respect the story, and add some details to make it dynamic”.

If Disney chooses to continue developing the Tangled remake, they should consider audience feedback on Snow White and not change the core story too much.

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Sophie Humphrey
Sophie Humphrey is a freelance writer and journalist. Sophie has seven years experience in journalism and has a keen interest in pop culture and entertainment. Sophie has worked for the likes of Time Out London, The Upcoming and Screen rant.