Rising stars Teagan Croft (“Titans,” “True Spirit”) and Milo Manheim (“Zombies” franchise) have landed the lead roles in Disney‘s live-action “Tangled” movie, based on the Academy Award-nominated 2010 animated feature.
Disney Studios announced the casting with a post to Instagram January 8th, sharing headshots of the stars. Croft commented underneath: “OMGGG WHO ARE THEYYYY,” while Manheim wrote: “I have seen the light”—a reference to the movie’s highly popular track. His comment was also accompanied by a lizard emoji, a nod to Rapunzel’s close animal buddy, Pascal.
The pair will respectively play Rapunzel and Flynn Rider, the thief who helps the princess escape the tower she’s imprisoned in. They take over roles portrayed in the original film by Mandy Moore and Zachary Levi. The role of Mother Gothel remains open. Though, it’s rumored that Kathryn Hahn is in talks to play the villain.
In December 2024, “The Greatest Showman” director Michael Gracey secured the spot to direct the film from a script penned by Jennifer Kaytin Robinson (“Thor: Love and Thunder,” “I Know What You Did Last Summer”). Plot details for the new “Tangled” haven’t been revealed. Disney briefly paused the film, following the box office failure of their live-action “Snow White” in early 2025, but have been actively pursuing it again as of last fall. Kristin Burr will produce for Burr! Productions, with Lucy Kitada executive producing.
Courtesy of @teagancroft @milomaneim
In the original “Tangled,” directed by Nathan Greno and Byron Howard, Rapunzel, a vibrant young princess with magical, long blonde tresses, escapes from her lonely tower for the first time to experience the world, commencing on a journey with a lovable thief, only to discover the truth about the witch who kept her captive, and be reunited with her loving parents. A zeitgeist, the film amassed over $590 million worldwide, and garnered an Oscar nomination for the original song, “I See the Light.” Composer Alan Menken and lyricist Glenn Slater were behind the film’s music.
Croft is best known for her role in the DC series, “Titans.”
Manheim is the son of Emmy and Golden Globe winner Camryn Manheim, and finished in second place on season 27 of “Dancing with the Stars.”
“Tangled” is the latest of Disney’s animated movies to become a live-action exposition, following “The Lion King,” “Beauty and the Beast,” “Aladdin,” “Mulan,” “Dumbo,” “The Little Mermaid,” “Snow White” and “Lilo & Stitch.” The live-action “Moana,” starring Dwayne Johnson as the gregarious demigod Maui and newcomer Catherine Laga‘aia as the victorious princess, arrives in theaters on July 10th.
- Lead Cast: Teagan Croft (Titans) as Rapunzel, Milo Manheim (Zombies) as Flynn Rider.
- Director: Michael Gracey (The Greatest Showman).
- Screenplay: Jennifer Kaytin Robinson.
- Producers: Kristin Burr.
- Filming: Set to begin Summer 2026 in the UK.
- Music: The film will maintain the musical elements of the original.
- Mother Gothel: Casting for the villain role is still unconfirmed, though Scarlett Johansson was previously in talks but is reportedly off the project.
Photo Credit: Featured photo and insert- Courtesy of Disney+ Hulu.
Photo Credit: Instagram, @teagancroft and @milomanheim
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