Disney Lets Down Its Hair as Live-Action TANGLED Casts Teagan Croft and Milo Manheim
Walt Disney Pictures has locked in its leads for the live-action adaptation of Tangled, casting Teagan Croft and Milo Manheim in the iconic roles of Rapunzel and Flynn Rider.
It’s a big step forward for the long-gestating remake of the 2010 animated favorite, and a move that could reshape both actors’ careers in a major way.
Croft steps into the role of Rapunzel, the endlessly curious would-be princess blessed and burdened with magical hair. Manheim takes on Flynn Rider, the charming outlaw whose chance encounter with Rapunzel turns into a life-altering adventure.
Both characters were previously voiced in the animated film by Mandy Moore and Zachary Levi, and their performances helped cement Tangled as a modern Disney classic and a cornerstone of Disney Animation’s second renaissance.
The film will be directed by Michael Gracey, whose background includes musical-heavy projects like Better Man and The Greatest Showman. That musical DNA is expected to carry over here, staying true to the spirit of the original film.
The script comes from Jennifer Kaytin Robinson, known for Do Revenge and Thor: Love and Thunder. Disney took its time landing on its new Rapunzel and Flynn. The studio conducted an extensive casting search across the U.S. and the U.K., with finalists screen testing in London in December before the winter holidays.
Sources say the process was careful and deliberate, with no rush to fill roles that mean so much to audiences who grew up with the animated film on repeat.
The casting of Mother Gothel is still ahead. At one point, Scarlett Johansson was being eyed for the villainous role, though no deal ultimately materialized. That announcement will likely be the next big domino to fall as the project continues to take shape.
For Croft, Tangled marks big milestone in her career. She’s best known for playing Raven on the DC series Titans, which ran from 2018 to 2023 across DC Universe and later HBO Max. She also starred in the Australian Netflix film True Spirit, portraying Jessica Watson, the teenage sailor who attempted a solo circumnavigation of the globe.
Manheim brings strong musical credibility of his own. The son of actress Camryn Manheim, he became a fan favorite through Disney Channel’s Zombies franchise, appearing in four films that blended supernatural teen drama with catchy, high-energy songs. He’s also starred in the Paramount+ series School Spirits and took on the role of Seymour in a revival of Little Shop of Horrors.
With its leads now set, Disney’s live-action Tangled is finally moving forward. If the studio can strike the right balance between honoring what fans love and putting a fresh spin on the story, this could be another big win for Disney’s live-action slate.
