Disney’s Tangled Live-Action Cast Teagan Croft as Rapunzel and Milo Manheim as Flynn Rider

Disney has officially cast Teagan Croft and Milo Manheim in the lead roles of its long-gestating live-action adaptation of Tangled, the studio announced this week. Croft — known for her work as Raven in Titans and her portrayal of Jessica Watson in True Spirit — will star as Rapunzel, while Manheim — a familiar face from Disney Channel’s Zombies franchise — takes on the charming thief Flynn Rider. 

Directed by Michael Gracey (The Greatest Showman), with a screenplay by Jennifer Kaytin Robinson (Thor: Love and Thunder), the project marks a significant step forward for Disney’s live-action remakes, which have become a cornerstone of the studio’s slate over the past decade. Production is slated to begin in mid-2026, with principal photography expected in locations across the U.K. and Spain. 

The casting news arrives after Tangled’s production endured a period of uncertainty; the project was temporarily paused following the disappointing box-office performance of Snow White earlier in 2025, which prompted Disney to reassess several high-profile live-action adaptations. A later rebound — including the billion-dollar success of Lilo & Stitch — helped revive Tangled’s trajectory. 

Croft, 21, steps into a role originally voiced by Mandy Moore in Disney’s 2010 animated classic, while Manheim, 24, follows in the footsteps of Zachary Levi’s beloved Flynn. Social media quickly lit up around the announcement, with many fans expressing excitement for the fresh faces and others debating casting choices, a familiar pattern for Disney remakes.

The original Tangled – an adaptation of the fairytale about a golden-haired maiden trapped inside a tower – was a critical and commercial success, grossing nearly $600 million worldwide and earning an Academy Award nomination for Best Original Song for “I See the Light.” The animated film helped launch a franchise that included a short film, a TV series and theme-park tie-ins, and remains one of Disney Animation’s most beloved modern classics. Though there’s yet a set release date for the live-action Tangled, it is expected to hit theaters as early as 2027.