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Disney is continuing its trend of reimagining animated classics into live-action, now bringing to life the beloved 2010 film Tangled. Helmed by Michael Gracey, who directed the hit musical The Greatest Showman, this adaptation promises a new take on the story of Rapunzel, the princess with magical, endlessly long hair. Jennifer Kaytin Robinson, known for Thor: Love and Thunder and Do Revenge, will pen the script. Producers Kristin Burr and Lucy Kitada, both seasoned Disney collaborators, are also attached to the project.
The original Tangled is loosely based on the Brothers Grimm fairy tale about a princess named Rapunzel who, with the help of a dashing thief named Flynn Rider, escapes her isolated tower. Released in 2010, the film grossed $592 million worldwide on a lofty $260 million budget. With an Oscar-nominated soundtrack from Alan Menken and Glenn Slater, including the hit song “When Will My Life Begin,” Tangled remains a favorite among fans of Disney’s animated output.
Over the years, the franchise has expanded to include a short film, Tangled Ever After; a Disney Channel series, Rapunzel’s Tangled Adventure; and stage adaptations. Most recently, Tangled has inspired attractions at Tokyo Disneyland and talk of a Broadway musical.
Disney has had mixed success with live-action remakes, including hits like Beauty and the Beast and The Jungle Book, and less impactful adaptations like Dumbo. With projects in the pipeline like Snow White and Lilo & Stitch, the studio seems to be continuing on full steam ahead with reimagining animated classics. Michael Gracey directing Tangled is a strategic move: to recreate the visual magic of the first while Integrating the spectacle and emotion audiences loved in The Greatest Showman.
While there has not been any casting for the live-action Tangled, fan discussion is in full swing. Florence Pugh and Timothée Chalamet are just some of the names being thrown out as potential Rapunzel and Flynn Rider. With Disney getting ready to bring this magical story into the real world, expectations are high for a mix of nostalgia and innovation.
Although there is no set release date, the development of Tangled marks another ambitious step in Disney’s mission to reimagine its animated masterpieces. Fans are clamoring to see just how Gracey and Robinson will breathe new life into this tale while honoring its legacy.
