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Disney has officially put its planned live-action adaptation of its 2010 animated hit Tangled on hold, according to multiple reports (via The Hollywood Reporter).
Disney’s decision to pause the project follows Snow White’s tepid earnings of just US$69 million domestically and US$145 million globally against a hefty US$270 million budget. Critics and audiences alike gave mixed reviews, with Rotten Tomatoes scores sitting at 40% for critics and 73% for audiences.
Tangled, based on the Brothers Grimm fairy tale of Rapunzel, was in active development with Michael Gracey (The Greatest Showman) attached to direct and Jennifer Kaytin Robinson (Thor: Love and Thunder) set to write the script. The original Tangled struck a chord with families and critics alike, earning US$592.5 million worldwide during its 2010 to 2011 release, boasting an 89% positive score on Rotten Tomatoes. It even earned an Oscar nomination for Best Original Song – making it an obvious choice for a live-action remake.
The underperformance of Snow White, coupled with controversies surrounding casting decisions and CGI effects, has cast doubt on Disney’s ability to replicate past successes like The Lion King (US$1.66 billion) and Aladdin (US$1.05 billion).
Despite Tangled now being in limbo, Disney’s still tapping into its animated library for live-action projects: Lilo & Stitch, set for release on 23 May 2025, and Moana, scheduled for 10 July 2026. Both films come with strong audience anticipation — the trailer for Lilo & Stitch became Disney’s second-most-viewed live-action trailer within 24 hours of release, while Moana benefits from the recent success of its animated sequel, which grossed over US$1 billion last November.
Disney’s decision to pause Tangled may also reflect a broader strategy shift as it waits to gauge audience reactions to these upcoming releases. If titles like Lilo & Stitch perform well both at the box office and on streaming platforms like Disney+, they could inform how the studio approaches future adaptations—including whether Tangled might be revived down the line.
For now, fans of Rapunzel can only wait and hope for Disney to let down its hair.
Everything changed when his parents bought him a PlayStation 2 for Christmas. Since then, he’s been hooked on all things esports, video games, and music. If he’s not livestreaming his shenanigans, he’s probably out taking mirror-selfies with his friends, vigorously debating over the Internet’s Meme of the Year.
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