Disney’s live-action adaptation of Tangled is back in early development, with Scarlett Johansson reportedly in talks to play the iconic villain Mother Gothel. The project, first paused earlier this year, signals the studio’s renewed confidence in bringing its modern animated stories to life on the big screen.

The story of Tangled originates from the Brothers Grimm fairy tale Rapunzel, first published in 1812. The original tale told of a young woman confined to a tower by an enchantress who uses her magical hair to climb up and down. Disney’s 2010 animated version reimagined the story as a vibrant musical about freedom and self-discovery, blending humor, romance, and computer animation to introduce Rapunzel to a new generation. Its success marked a creative turning point for Disney and set the foundation for later films such as Frozen and Moana.

Disney paused development on the project in April after Snow White underperformed at the box office and received mixed reviews. The film opened to about 43 million dollars domestically, a steep decline compared with previous live-action successes like Beauty and the Beast and Aladdin, which both debuted above 90 million dollars. Analysts cited muted audience interest and creative choices that failed to capture the charm of the original animated classic. The response prompted the studio to reassess its live-action strategy before moving forward with other adaptations. Confidence has since rebounded with the success of Lilo and Stitch, which has earned more than 1 billion dollars worldwide and stands as 2025’s top-grossing Motion Picture Association title.

The revival of Tangled fits within Disney’s current focus on adapting its modern animated catalog. The studio continues to prioritize titles released after 1989’s The Little Mermaid, which have consistently outperformed remakes of earlier classics like Pinocchio and Snow White. Industry observers note that audiences, especially millennials and Gen Z viewers, often connect more deeply with stories from Disney’s 1990s and 2000s animation era.

The 2010 animated Tangled earned nearly 600 million dollars globally and introduced viewers to the adventurous Rapunzel and her witty companion Flynn Rider. Featuring music by Alan Menken and lyrics by Glenn Slater, the film blended classic fairy-tale themes with modern humor and emotional storytelling. Its success reestablished Disney’s strength in musical animation and helped define the tone of its modern princess era.

Johansson’s potential casting brings additional momentum to the project. The two-time Academy Award nominee recently directed Eleanor the Great, which premiered at the Cannes Film Festival to a six-minute standing ovation and holds a 94 percent audience score on Rotten Tomatoes. She also appeared in Wes Anderson’s The Phoenician Scheme and Universal’s Jurassic World Rebirth, the latter becoming one of this year’s top-grossing films with 867 million dollars worldwide.

Disney’s Live Action division, which recently released the original fantasy feature Impossible Creatures, continues to balance reimaginings of beloved franchises with the development of new stories. Executives have said their goal is to both “honor the classics” and “tell new stories that can resonate for generations.”