Disney has locked in a release date for its live-action reimagining of Tangled, announcing at the D23 fan event in Anaheim that the film will arrive in theaters on March 31, 2028 [1]. The studio used the Disney Entertainment Showcase to debut exclusive footage of the production — currently filming in Spain — marking the project's most significant public reveal since it was first reported in development in December 2024 [1].

A Cast Built Around Rising Stars

The film stars Teagan Croft as Rapunzel and Milo Manheim as Flynn Rider, stepping into roles originally voiced by Mandy Moore and Zachary Levi in the beloved 2010 animated feature [1][2]. Croft, a rising Australian actress, was cast at the beginning of 2026, while Manheim — best known for Disney's Zombies franchise — takes on the cocky outlaw thief who helps Rapunzel escape her tower [2].

The first footage shown at D23 opened on Croft from behind, her long blonde hair cascading over cobblestone streets, before cutting to Kathryn Hahn as the manipulative Mother Gothel [2]. Hahn, who took the stage to address the crowd, described her character with characteristic wit: "She's stunning, hilarious, fab, kind, generous to a fault," adding that the villain "may be a little overprotective, but that's because she cares so much" and is "the best kind of villain, the kind who thinks she's actually a hero" [1][2].

Rounding out the cast, Diego Luna has joined in a newly created role not present in the animated original [1][2]. Patrick and Hugo McPherson play the Stabbington brothers, the twin villains who cross paths with Flynn Rider [1].

A Director With Musical Pedigree

Helming the project is Michael Gracey, whose résumé includes the musical spectacles The Greatest Showman and Better Man [1][2]. That background is deliberate: the new adaptation will retain the big musical elements that made the original a fan favorite [2]. The screenplay comes from Jennifer Kaytin Robinson — whose credits span Thor: Love and Thunder and I Know What You Did Last Summer — and Michael Montemayor, writer of Everyone I Know is Dead [1][2].

Kristin Burr produces, bringing deep Disney ties that include Cruella (2021) and Freakier Friday [2]. Lucy Kitada and Jessica Virtue serve as executive producers [1].

A Project That Survived a Near-Cancellation

The road to D23 was not straightforward. After the project was first reported in December 2024, Disney placed it on hold the following April following the disappointing performance of its Snow White live-action remake, which earned only $69 million domestically and $145 million globally [1]. That stumble raised serious questions about the studio's appetite for continuing its pipeline of animated-to-live-action adaptations.

The Tangled remake ultimately survived that reassessment — a decision that makes financial sense given the franchise's track record. The 2010 animated film grossed over $591 million worldwide and spawned a Disney Channel series, Rapunzel's Tangled Adventure, as well as the short film Tangled Ever After [1][2]. Its signature song, "I See the Light," earned an Oscar nomination for Best Original Song and Golden Globe nominations for Best Animated Feature and Best Original Song at the 2011 ceremony [1].

Production Underway in Spain

Filming began in Spain in June 2026, and both Croft and Manheim appeared in a virtual message to D23 attendees, shown in costume from their active set [1][2]. The choice of Spain as a production base aligns with the film's fairy-tale European aesthetic, though Disney has not specified which locations are being used.

What to Watch Next

With a release date now firmly on the calendar, attention will shift to whether Disney can thread the needle that Snow White could not: translating the emotional and musical magic of a beloved animated film into a live-action format that satisfies both nostalgic fans and new audiences. The studio's willingness to greenlight the project despite the Snow White setback suggests confidence in the Tangled property's broader appeal — but a full trailer, likely arriving well ahead of the March 2028 date, will be the first real test of public sentiment. Watch for marketing to lean heavily on Hahn's scene-stealing Mother Gothel and the film's musical sequences, given Gracey's proven ability to deliver crowd-pleasing spectacle on screen.