If you have been searching for the live action Tangled casting and keep finding old rumors, fan-casting lists, or outdated reports, there is finally a much clearer picture. Disney has officially chosen the main actors, production is underway, and the movie now has a confirmed theatrical release date.
The biggest casting news is that Teagan Croft plays Rapunzel, while Milo Manheim plays Flynn Rider. Kathryn Hahn has also officially joined as Mother Gothel, and Disney has since revealed several supporting characters, including Caitríona Balfe as Queen Arianna and Elliot Cowan as King Frederic.
That matters because the project went through a long development and casting process. In late 2025, several performers were reportedly considered or tested before Disney settled on Croft and Manheim. The finished cast is therefore quite different from many of the names that circulated during the rumor stage.
Here is what we actually know about the Tangled casting call, live-action cast, characters, Teagan Croft, and release date.
Who is in the live action Tangled casting?
The confirmed principal cast currently includes:
| Actor | Character |
|---|---|
| Teagan Croft | Rapunzel |
| Milo Manheim | Flynn Rider |
| Kathryn Hahn | Mother Gothel |
| Caitríona Balfe | Queen Arianna |
| Elliot Cowan | King Frederic |
| Diego Luna | Hawthorne |
| Patrick McPherson | Stabbington Brother |
| Hugo McPherson | Stabbington Brother |
Disney revealed Croft and Manheim as the leads in January 2026. Hahn’s casting was confirmed in March, while later announcements expanded the supporting ensemble.
One particularly interesting detail is Diego Luna’s Hawthorne. Hawthorne is a new character rather than a straightforward live-action version of someone from the 2010 animated movie. Disney has kept much of the character’s story under wraps, making him one of the more intriguing additions to the adaptation.
Teagan Croft is Rapunzel
The most important piece of the casting is undoubtedly Teagan Croft as Rapunzel.
Croft is an Australian actress best known internationally for playing Raven in DC’s Titans. She has also appeared in The Osiris Child and True Spirit. Disney ultimately selected her after a casting process that involved several young performers being considered for the role.
Her casting is interesting because Rapunzel is not simply a visual role.
The actor needs to handle several different versions of the character:
- sheltered and inexperienced Rapunzel
- energetic and curious Rapunzel
- frightened Rapunzel
- adventurous Rapunzel
- emotionally conflicted Rapunzel
- romantic scenes with Flynn
- musical material
- physically demanding sequences involving her extraordinarily long hair
That combination makes the casting more demanding than simply finding an actress who resembles the animated princess.
Why Teagan Croft makes sense for Rapunzel
Croft already has experience playing a character who has to balance vulnerability with unusual strength. Her work as Raven also required her to communicate emotion without relying entirely on conventional cheerful Disney-princess behavior.
That could be useful for a live-action Rapunzel.
The original animated version can exaggerate expressions because it is animation. A live-action performer has to make the same emotional changes feel believable in a physical environment.
This is one of the reasons the casting choice should not be judged solely by whether Croft looks exactly like the animated character.
Milo Manheim plays Flynn Rider
Milo Manheim has been cast as Flynn Rider, the thief who becomes Rapunzel’s unexpected partner.
Manheim is already closely associated with Disney because of the Zombies franchise. He also brings musical and dance experience to a movie that is expected to retain the musical identity of the original.
Flynn is a deceptively difficult character to cast.
He has to be:
- charming without becoming too polished;
- funny without turning every scene into a joke;
- confident but not unlikeable;
- physically convincing as an adventurer;
- believable opposite Rapunzel;
- capable of carrying musical material.
The chemistry between Manheim and Croft may ultimately be more important than whether either actor is a perfect physical copy of the animated characters.
Kathryn Hahn even praised the pairing at D23, describing Croft and Manheim as being beautiful together.
Kathryn Hahn is Mother Gothel
One of the most exciting pieces of the Tangled live-action casting is Kathryn Hahn as Mother Gothel.
Hahn officially confirmed the role in March 2026 after reports about her casting had circulated earlier.
The choice makes sense because Gothel requires a very particular combination of qualities.
She is not supposed to look like an obvious monster.
In fact, her manipulation works partly because she can appear affectionate, sophisticated and protective while gradually controlling Rapunzel’s entire life.
That gives Hahn plenty of room to create a Gothel who feels more psychologically realistic than a simple cartoon villain.
Why Mother Gothel may change the most
The animated Gothel is theatrical and deliberately exaggerated. Live action gives Disney an opportunity to emphasize the uncomfortable reality behind her behavior.
A real-world interpretation could make her manipulation feel more subtle:
- affection followed by guilt;
- praise followed by criticism;
- apparent concern followed by isolation;
- jokes that disguise control;
- fear presented as parental protection.
That could make the relationship between Gothel and Rapunzel one of the strongest parts of the remake.
Who plays Rapunzel’s parents?
Disney has also revealed the actors playing Rapunzel’s biological parents.
Caitríona Balfe plays Queen Arianna, Rapunzel’s mother, while Elliot Cowan plays King Frederic.
This is an important casting development because Rapunzel’s parents have relatively limited screen time in the original film.
A live-action adaptation could potentially give them more narrative weight.
Balfe is particularly interesting because audiences know her from Outlander, where she has extensive experience with period settings, emotional drama and physically demanding storytelling.
Whether the remake expands Queen Arianna and King Frederic remains to be seen, but their inclusion creates opportunities to strengthen the emotional story surrounding Rapunzel’s disappearance and eventual return.
Who is Diego Luna playing?
Diego Luna is joining the film as Hawthorne, a new character created for the live-action adaptation.
This is one of the clearest signs that the remake is not simply recreating the animated movie scene for scene.
Disney has not revealed extensive details about Hawthorne’s personality or storyline.
That is worth remembering when reading online claims about the character. A surprising number of supposed character descriptions circulating online are speculation rather than confirmed information.
For now, the safest description is simply:
Diego Luna plays Hawthorne, a new character created for the live-action Tangled film.
What happened with the Tangled casting call?
This is where many searches become confusing.
Before Disney announced its final leads, reports emerged about screen tests in London. Several actors were reportedly considered for Rapunzel and Flynn Rider. Names connected with the casting process included Freya Skye, Sarah Catherine Hook, Teagan Croft and Olivia-Mai Barrett, while Lola Tung was reportedly considered but did not test because of scheduling issues.
For Flynn, Milo Manheim and Charlie Gillespie were among the names reported as being tested.
The important distinction is:
Being considered or auditioning does not mean an actor was cast.
This is one of the most common mistakes in articles and social-media posts about movie casting.
A casting call can involve:
- initial submissions;
- auditions;
- callbacks;
- chemistry reads;
- screen tests;
- studio testing;
- negotiations;
- final approval.
An actor can reach a late stage and still not receive the role.
Was there a public Tangled casting call?
There is no reason to assume that Disney opened a simple public audition where anyone could submit themselves for Rapunzel or Flynn.
Large studio productions normally use professional casting networks, agents, managers, casting directors and targeted auditions for major roles.
Disney does maintain official audition information for performer opportunities, particularly for its parks and entertainment operations, but that should not automatically be interpreted as a casting call for the Tangled feature film.
So if you encounter a website claiming to be an official “Disney Tangled casting call” and asking for personal information or payment, be extremely cautious.
What about the “Tangled flower” connection?
The Tangled flower is one of the most recognizable symbols associated with the story.
The magical golden flower is central to Rapunzel’s origin because its healing power is transferred to her, giving her hair its magical properties.
For a live-action production, the flower presents an interesting visual and storytelling challenge.
Animation allows Disney to make the flower instantly magical through exaggerated color, movement and glowing effects. Live action has to make that same object look believable enough to exist within the physical world while still feeling extraordinary.
That balance could be especially important because the flower is not merely decoration. It explains why Rapunzel’s hair has its healing ability and why Gothel is obsessed with keeping her.
Will the live-action movie copy the original Tangled?
The basic story is expected to remain recognizable.
Rapunzel has spent most of her life isolated in a tower. Flynn Rider enters her world while fleeing authorities, and their meeting eventually leads Rapunzel outside the tower and into a much larger adventure.
That core premise comes directly from the 2010 Disney film.
However, the addition of Hawthorne demonstrates that Disney is willing to introduce new material.
That creates two possibilities.
What should remain
Fans will reasonably expect:
- Rapunzel’s magical hair
- Flynn Rider
- Mother Gothel
- the tower
- Corona
- Pascal
- Maximus
- the lantern tradition
- Rapunzel’s relationship with her parents
- the central emotional journey
What can change
A live-action adaptation can potentially expand:
- Rapunzel’s childhood;
- the royal family;
- Gothel’s motivations;
- Flynn’s backstory;
- supporting characters;
- the kingdom itself;
- the transition from tower life to the outside world.
The best adaptation would preserve the emotional identity of the original while giving the story enough room to work in a physical setting.
When is the live-action Tangled release date?
This is no longer just a rumor.
Disney announced at D23 in August 2026 that the live-action Tangled will be released in theaters on March 31, 2028.
Production is already underway in Spain. The D23 presentation included an early look at Teagan Croft as Rapunzel and Kathryn Hahn as Mother Gothel.
So the current timeline is:
January 2026: Teagan Croft and Milo Manheim announced as Rapunzel and Flynn.
March 2026: Kathryn Hahn confirmed as Mother Gothel.
May 2026: Diego Luna joins as Hawthorne.
August 2026: Additional supporting cast and the March 31, 2028 release date are revealed.
2026: Production takes place in Spain.
March 31, 2028: Planned theatrical release.
This is a much more concrete situation than it was during the earlier casting-rumor period.
Who directed the live-action Tangled?
The film is directed by Michael Gracey, whose previous directing credits include The Greatest Showman and Better Man. The screenplay comes from Jennifer Kaytin Robinson and Michael Montemayor.
Gracey is an especially notable choice for a Disney musical because The Greatest Showman demonstrated his experience combining large-scale spectacle, music and character-driven storytelling.
That could be useful for Tangled, where the musical sequences are just as important to the identity of the film as the fantasy elements.
A useful comparison: original vs live-action cast
| Character | 2010 animated film | Live-action |
|---|---|---|
| Rapunzel | Mandy Moore | Teagan Croft |
| Flynn Rider | Zachary Levi | Milo Manheim |
| Mother Gothel | Donna Murphy | Kathryn Hahn |
| Queen Arianna | Animated character | Caitríona Balfe |
| King Frederic | Animated character | Elliot Cowan |
| Hawthorne | Not in original | Diego Luna |
| Stabbington Brothers | Animated characters | Patrick & Hugo McPherson |
The change from Mandy Moore and Zachary Levi to Croft and Manheim is expected because the original performers provided voices rather than live-action performances. Disney’s original film was released in 2010 and starred Moore, Levi and Murphy.
Three details fans should watch closely
1. The casting is designed around chemistry, not just resemblance
One overlooked aspect of the casting process is that Rapunzel and Flynn need to work as a pair.
A casting choice that looks perfect on paper can fail if the two performers do not create believable chemistry.
The reports of screen tests and chemistry readings during the selection process are therefore significant.
2. Hawthorne could signal a larger rewrite
Adding Diego Luna as a completely new character is more meaningful than simply adding another supporting actor.
It suggests the screenplay has room for material that did not exist in the animated movie.
That does not necessarily mean the story will be radically different, but it does mean viewers should not expect a frame-for-frame recreation.
3. Rapunzel’s hair will be a production challenge
The most recognizable physical feature in Tangled is also one of its hardest live-action elements.
Rapunzel’s hair has to look extremely long while remaining practical enough for scenes involving movement, climbing, action and interaction with other characters.
The first footage shown at D23 deliberately emphasized that hair, tracking along its extraordinary length before revealing Croft as Rapunzel.
That was a smart first-look choice: before audiences know whether the remake works, they need to believe that this really is Rapunzel.
Common Tangled casting mistakes to avoid
When researching the movie, keep these distinctions in mind:
- Fan casting is not official casting.
- An actor being tested is not the same as being selected.
- Rumored negotiations can collapse.
- A new character does not necessarily mean the original story is being abandoned.
- Old articles may list the project without its current cast or release date.
- A casting rumor from 2025 should not be treated as current information in 2026.
This last point is particularly important because Tangled went through several development stages before production moved forward.
FAQ
Who is playing Rapunzel in the live-action Tangled?
Teagan Croft is playing Rapunzel in Disney’s live-action Tangled. Croft was officially announced for the role in January 2026 after a casting process involving multiple performers. She is known internationally for playing Raven in Titans.
Who is playing Flynn Rider in the live-action Tangled?
Milo Manheim is playing Flynn Rider. He is known for Disney’s Zombies franchise and was selected alongside Croft as one of the film’s two principal stars.
Who plays Mother Gothel in Tangled live action?
Kathryn Hahn plays Mother Gothel. Disney officially confirmed her casting in March 2026, and she appeared in the first-look material presented at D23 later that year.
When is the live-action Tangled coming out?
Disney has announced March 31, 2028 as the theatrical release date for the live-action Tangled. The announcement was made at D23 in August 2026, where Disney also showed early footage from the movie.
Is there a new character in the live-action Tangled?
Yes. Diego Luna plays Hawthorne, a new character created for the live-action adaptation. Hawthorne does not appear in the 2010 animated movie, and Disney has not revealed all of his story details.
Was Teagan Croft the only actress considered for Rapunzel?
No. Reports from the casting process indicate that several performers were considered or tested for Rapunzel before Disney selected Croft. That included names such as Freya Skye, Sarah Catherine Hook and Olivia-Mai Barrett, while Lola Tung was reportedly considered but did not test.
Conclusion
The live action Tangled casting is now much clearer than it was during the rumor-heavy stages of development. Teagan Croft is officially Rapunzel, Milo Manheim is Flynn Rider, and Kathryn Hahn takes on Mother Gothel. Caitríona Balfe, Elliot Cowan, Diego Luna and the McPherson brothers expand the cast beyond the familiar characters from the 2010 animation.
More importantly, the project has moved beyond hypothetical casting: production is underway and Disney has set March 31, 2028, for the theatrical release.
The most interesting question now is not simply who was cast. It is how Disney will translate the emotional relationship between Rapunzel and Gothel, the chemistry between Rapunzel and Flynn, and the magical world of Corona into live action without losing what made the original so memorable.
