In a move that has left Disney fans reeling, the entertainment giant has reportedly hit the pause button on its highly anticipated live-action remake of Tangled, the beloved 2010 animated classic. The decision comes hot on the heels of the disappointing box office performance of its latest live-action venture, Snow White, starring Rachel Zegler. With rumors swirling about a “Black Rapunzel” and the fallout from Snow White’s failure dominating headlines, this development has sparked heated debates across social media, fan forums, and entertainment news outlets. What went wrong, and why has Tangled become the latest casualty in Disney’s live-action remake saga? Let’s dive into the details.
The Rise and Fall of Disney’s Live-Action Dreams
Disney’s strategy of transforming its animated classics into live-action spectacles has been a mixed bag over the past decade. Hits like Beauty and the Beast (2017), Aladdin (2019), and The Lion King (2019) raked in billions at the global box office, proving that nostalgia could be a goldmine when paired with cutting-edge visuals and star power. However, recent efforts have stumbled, with The Little Mermaid (2023) earning a lukewarm $570 million worldwide and Mufasa: The Lion King (2024) starting slow before rebounding to $718 million. Then came Snow White—a $270 million gamble that has so far grossed just $145 million globally as of early April 2025, marking it as one of Disney’s most significant financial missteps in years.
The Snow White remake, released in March 2025, was plagued by controversy from the start. Rachel Zegler, the Latina actress cast as the iconic princess, faced backlash over her casting, with some fans arguing that her heritage didn’t align with the “skin white as snow” description from the 1937 original. Zegler’s comments during the press tour didn’t help, as she criticized the original film’s love story as “weird” and its prince as a “stalker,” alienating a portion of Disney’s traditional fanbase. Add to that the film’s use of CGI dwarfs instead of actors with dwarfism—a decision that sparked its own wave of criticism—and Snow White became a lightning rod for culture war debates. By its second weekend, the film had dropped to second place behind a Jason Statham action flick, signaling that audiences weren’t buying what Disney was selling.
Tangled Enters the Fray
Enter Tangled, Disney’s modern retelling of the Rapunzel fairy tale, which had been in active development as a live-action project. The 2010 animated film, starring Mandy Moore as Rapunzel and Zachary Levi as Flynn Rider, was a critical and commercial success, grossing nearly $600 million worldwide and earning an Oscar nomination for Best Original Song. Its blend of humor, heart, and stunning visuals made it a fan favorite, and whispers of a live-action adaptation had been circulating for years. By late 2024, the project had gained momentum, with The Greatest Showman director Michael Gracey attached to helm and Thor: Love and Thunder writer Jennifer Kaytin Robinson penning the script. Pre-production was underway, and casting rumors were lighting up the internet.
Among the most persistent rumors was the idea of a “Black Rapunzel.” Fan-casting had zeroed in on actresses like Avantika (Mean Girls musical) and Maitreyi Ramakrishnan (Never Have I Ever), both of South Asian descent, as potential leads. The notion of a non-blonde Rapunzel reignited debates similar to those surrounding Halle Bailey’s casting as Ariel in The Little Mermaid and Zegler’s as Snow White. Some fans embraced the idea, arguing that Rapunzel’s story isn’t tied to her race and that diversity could breathe new life into the tale. Others pushed back, insisting that the character’s iconic golden hair—70 feet of it, no less—was too central to the story to be reimagined. Social media erupted with takes ranging from “Rapunzel’s hair is the plot, not her skin!” to “A Black Rapunzel would slay—let’s move past the blonde stereotype!”
The Snow White Effect
While Tangled’s casting remained speculative, the project’s fate was sealed by the fallout from Snow White. Reports from outlets like The Hollywood Reporter and Deadline confirmed that Disney had paused pre-production on Tangled in early April 2025, just weeks after Snow White’s lackluster debut. Insiders suggest that the studio is reevaluating its live-action remake strategy, rattled by Snow White’s estimated $115 million loss and the PR nightmare that accompanied it. The decision to shelve Tangled wasn’t explicitly tied to casting controversies, but the timing—and the online chatter about a “Black Rapunzel”—has fueled speculation that Disney is wary of another divisive rollout.
The Snow White debacle wasn’t just about box office numbers. Zegler’s outspokenness, including her anti-Trump social media posts during the 2024 election cycle and her pro-Palestine activism, drew ire from conservative commentators and some fans, who accused her of dragging politics into a family film. Her co-star Gal Gadot, an Israeli actress who voiced support for her home country amid the Israel-Palestine conflict, added another layer of tension. Disney’s attempt to navigate these controversies—limiting press access at the premiere and avoiding a traditional U.K. rollout—only amplified the perception that the studio had lost control of the narrative. With Tangled poised to be the next princess tale in the spotlight, Disney seems to have decided that now isn’t the time to risk another PR firestorm.
What’s Next for Tangled?
So, where does this leave Tangled? For now, the project is on indefinite hold, with no clear indication of whether it will be revived or scrapped entirely. Some industry analysts believe Disney might revisit it after a creative overhaul, perhaps sticking closer to the original’s aesthetic to avoid the backlash that plagued Snow White. Others argue that the studio’s live-action remake formula is showing signs of fatigue, with audiences growing tired of recycled stories that stray too far from their roots—or don’t stray far enough to justify their existence.
Disney isn’t abandoning the live-action game altogether. Lilo & Stitch is slated for May 23, 2025, and Moana is set for July 10, 2026, buoyed by the recent success of Moana 2 in November 2024. Both films benefit from relatively recent source material (2002 and 2016, respectively), unlike Snow White’s 88-year-old origins, which may have contributed to its disconnect with modern audiences. Tangled, at just 15 years old, falls somewhere in between—fresh enough to feel relevant, but perhaps not urgent enough to warrant a redo in the current climate.
The Bigger Picture
The Tangled pause reflects broader questions about Disney’s future. The studio has undergone a leadership shakeup, with Daria Cercek taking over as head of live-action theatrical films in February 2025, replacing Sean Bailey, a key architect of the remake boom. As Disney grapples with shifting audience tastes and a polarized cultural landscape, it faces a delicate balancing act: honoring its legacy while adapting to a world that demands both nostalgia and innovation.
For fans of Tangled, the news is a bitter pill. The image of Rapunzel’s glowing hair lighting up the sky in live-action form remains a distant dream—for now. Whether it’s a “Black Rapunzel” or a blonde one, the character’s next chapter will have to wait until Disney figures out how to untangle its remake woes. In the meantime, the online buzz continues, with fans debating what could have been and what might still be. One thing’s for sure: this story is far from its happily ever after.
Why It Matters
The shelving of Tangled isn’t just about one film—it’s a signal that even Disney, the titan of entertainment, isn’t immune to missteps. From casting choices to creative risks, the studio’s every move is under a microscope, and the stakes have never been higher. As the dust settles from Snow White’s flop, all eyes are on Disney’s next play. Will it double down on its remake machine, or pivot to something new? Only time will tell, but for now, Rapunzel’s tower remains empty—and the internet has plenty to say about it.
