Disney’s planned live-action adaptation of the 2010 animated film Tangled has reportedly been paused as the company reassesses its strategy for live-action adaptations of Disney Princess films. As reported by the Hollywood Reporter, insiders indicate that the project is currently on hold with uncertainty surrounding whether it will proceed in the future or undergo a creative re-evaluation.
This development occurs amid a lukewarm reception for Disney’s recent release, Snow White, which holds a 40% critics score and a 73% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes. The film faced criticism for casting choices for the Evil Queen and mixed feedback on its computer-generated dwarfs. However, Rachel Zegler’s performance as the lead received widespread acclaim and was noted as the film’s standout element. Despite Zegler overcoming online harassment and attempts to associate her with the film’s challenges, Snow White has garnered only $69 million domestically and $145 million globally against its $270 million budget, exacerbated by the 2023 labor strikes, as detailed by the Hollywood Reporter.
Tangled also encountered similar online cultural controversies akin to those faced by Snow White and The Little Mermaid. Avantika, star of the Mean Girls musical, was rumored to be considered for the role of Rapunzel, despite no confirmation from Disney. She became a target of online harassment related to the rumor.
The performance of the upcoming Lilo & Stitch adaptation may impact Disney’s approach to future live-action projects. Observers are keen to see if Snow White captures a larger audience on Disney+, akin to the success of Encanto on streaming platforms. The pause on Tangled might be a strategy to assess outcomes in both box office and streaming performances of upcoming live-action releases in 2025 before deciding the film’s direction.
Other projects in the Disney live-action lineup include Moana, currently in production, and Hercules, which is in pre-production. Meanwhile, fans are left anticipating the eventual debut of a live-action Rapunzel.
io9 has contacted Disney for comments and will provide updates as more information becomes available.