Disney Moving Forward With Live-Action TANGLED as Short List of Lead Actor Hopefuls Is Revealed
Disney has been flip flopping back and forth with its plans for a live-action Tangled adaptation, but it looks like they’re finally moving forward, as they recently met with a handful of hopefuls who are vying for the lead roles of Rapunzel and Flynn Rider.
The Hollywood Reporter says those who tested for Rapunzel included Freya Skye, who made her feature debut with Disney’s Zombies 4: Dawn of the Vampires earlier this year; Sarah Catherine Hook, who appeared in the recent season of White Lotus; Australian Teagan Croft, perhaps best known for playing Raven in the DC series Titans; and Olivia-Mai Barrett, who appears on the AppleTV+ series Invasion.
It was also rumored that The Summer I Turned Pretty headliner Lola Tung was in the mix, but did not test as she may have had a scheduling conflict. (Summer may have exercised its option on her for the film continuation of the series.)
As for Flynn Rider, Milo Manheim, the male lead of Disney’s Zombies franchise, as well as Charlie Gillespie, who credits range from this year’s comedy Splitsville to Netflix series Julie and the Phantoms, are known to have tested. Both have shown musical chops in their respective careers. Also testing was Scottish thespian Gilli Jones.
Mandy Moore and Zachary Levi respectively voiced the parts in the original movie, now regarded as a modern classic and part of Disney Animation’s second renaissance.
The other big role in the feature is Mother Gothel, the witch who keeps Rapunzel locked up in the tower in order to use her magical hair to stay forever young.
Scarlett Johansson was attached to bring the role to life but that is no longer the case. The actress will now be shooting a reboot of The Exorcist as well as The Batman Part II next year.
Michael Gracey, who previously made the musical biopics Better Man and The Greatest Showman, will bring this film to life, and like the original, will include big musical elements.
Disney is eyeing to shoot Tangled in the UK beginning in June.