Disney's Tangled Live-Action Remake is Back in the Spotlight – Scarlett Johansson Could Play Mother Gothel!
Disney is once again moving forward with a live-action adaptation of Tangled, reigniting excitement for fans of the 2010 animated classic. Earlier this year, development on the remake had been put on hold, leaving audiences uncertain about the project's future. But here's where it gets interesting: Deadline reports that the studio is revisiting the remake, and Scarlett Johansson is now in talks to portray the iconic villain, Mother Gothel. For context, the character was originally voiced by Tony Award-winner Donna Murphy in the beloved animated film.
The pause in production followed the release of Disney's live-action Snow White, which faced considerable controversy upon its debut in March and underperformed at the box office by Disney's high standards. However, the studio has since found renewed success with Lilo & Stitch, which premiered in theaters this past summer, giving Disney confidence to continue exploring live-action adaptations.
Director Michael Gracey, known for The Greatest Showman and 2024's Better Man, remains attached to the Tangled project. The most recent script has been crafted by Jennifer Kaytin Robinson, who has writing credits for Thor: Love and Thunder, Do Revenge, and the upcoming reboot of I Know What You Did Last Summer. While no further casting announcements or updates on the musical score have been made, it is widely expected that Alan Menken and Glenn Slater's much-loved songs from the original film will be featured in the remake.
For those unfamiliar with the story, Tangled is a modern retelling of the classic Rapunzel fairy tale. The 2010 animated film starred Zachary Levi, Mandy Moore, and Donna Murphy, with a score composed by Menken and lyrics by Slater. It tells the story of Rapunzel, a young princess with magical, extraordinarily long blonde hair, who dreams of leaving her hidden tower and exploring the world. The movie struck a chord with audiences, earning $200 million in the US and Canada and receiving an Academy Award nomination for Best Original Song with "I See the Light." Its success also led to a spin-off television movie and series, which brought back some of the original voice cast and introduced new songs by Menken and Slater.
The franchise even extended to stage adaptations. A shortened version, Tangled: The Musical, premiered aboard the Disney Magic cruise ship in 2015, featuring three new songs written by Menken and Slater. Disney is also reportedly working on a full-scale stage production, further expanding the life of this cherished story.
And this is the part most people miss: with Johansson potentially stepping into the role of Mother Gothel, the remake could take on an entirely new dimension, giving audiences a fresh interpretation of the cunning antagonist. Could this be the twist that makes Disney's next live-action fairy tale a hit? What do you think about Scarlett Johansson taking on such an iconic role—does she fit the part, or could this spark controversy among long-time fans? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
