Rapunzel is stepping out of her tower and into the real world. Disney has unveiled the first look at its live-action Tangled at its D23 fan event, offering a glimpse of Teagan Croft as the long-haired princess and Kathryn Hahn as the manipulative Mother Gothel.
Deadline reported that the studio also confirmed a release date of 31 March 2028. The film is currently shooting in Spain, with Croft, Milo Manheim and Hahn leading the cast.
The first footage showed Croft as Rapunzel from behind, her long blonde hair flowing across cobbled streets. The scene then introduced Hahn as Mother Gothel.
Hahn later appeared on stage and thanked fans for supporting her casting. She joked that Gothel “may be a little overprotective” because she cares so much. She also described the character as “the best kind of villain”, someone who believes she is actually the hero.
Croft and Manheim also joined the event virtually from the Spanish set. They appeared in costume, with Manheim playing Flynn Rider.
Disney cast Croft, a rising Australian actress, as Rapunzel earlier this year. The character is a curious and adventurous princess with magical hair. Manheim, known for Zombies, plays Flynn, the confident outlaw thief who helps Rapunzel escape from her tower.
In Disney’s 2010 animated film, Mandy Moore voiced Rapunzel and Zachary Levi voiced Flynn Rider. The film became a modern Disney classic and formed part of the studio’s second animation renaissance.
Diego Luna has also joined the live-action adaptation in a new role.
Michael Gracey, director of Better Man and The Greatest Showman, is directing the film. Like the animated original, the new version will feature major musical elements.
Kristin Burr is producing. She previously worked on Freakier Friday and the 2021 live-action Cruella. Jennifer Kaytin Robinson, known for I Know What You Did Last Summer and Thor: Love and Thunder, and Michael Montemayor wrote the screenplay.
The original Tangled earned more than $591 million worldwide and later inspired a popular Disney Channel series.
Production on the live-action version began earlier this summer in Spain.
