Disney’s long-anticipated live action version of Tangled has become a reality. And as of late April, Disney has begun filming the screen adaptation and has shown off Teagan Croft as Rapunzel and Milo Manheim as Flynn Rider. The project has been a long time coming and is finally filming in Spain after nearly ten years in development.
The star-studded cast: Croftbest known for crucial parts in Titans and True Spiritwill be doing battle with her evil duo by playing stunning heroine Rapunzel and, fresh from Disney’s Zombies franchise, Manheim will be “moonlighting” as dashing criminal, Flynn Rider. The duo was unveiled by Disney as its leading lady-and-gentleman pair earlier this year, after an exhaustive casting calls. Filming has reportedly started in Spain in June with the cast filming in and around Spanish locations like Girona and northern Spain.
One of the set photos already floating around has also shown the building of the well known tower and some part of the kingdom of Corona which means that we now have an idea of how Disney will transform the animated world into real life. The initial looks of Croft and Manheim in costume have gained a lot of offtwitter buzz. Croft was pictured from behind in a live version of Rapunzel’s iconic purple gown, with crowning glory – her very long blonde hair.
Manheim’s Flynn Rider (or Eugene Fitzherbert, as he is named in the film) costume is also very character-inspired, although the live-action version of the character wears a different hairdo and facial hair. Though not as prominent as some characters, one of the biggest new faces to join the cast is Kathryn Hahn who portrays both the Machiavellian Mother Gothel.
The actor has already begun to take on the role in public appearances, and her casting has been much celebrated because of her familiarity with playing kooky and psychologically complex characters. During Disney’s 2026 D23 event, Hahn hinted at who her character is, describes her as a villain who thinks she’s the hero in her own story.
Beyond the previously announced Diego Luna who is joining to play a new role, the cast has been filled out by Patrick and Hugo McPherson as the Stabbington Brothers and Caitrona Balfe, now the latest addition to the ever growing cast, as Queen Arianna.
Running the show behind the camera is Michael Gracey, director of The Greatest Showman. The script was written by Jennifer Kaytin Robinson and Michael Montemayor. Gracey’s experience of large budget musical films makes him an mostly intriguing choice for a film that will have to translate the complex musical scenes from Tangled into live action.
Actually, the first Tortangled was the story of Rapunzel. A young woman is locked away in a tower with a lock of magical hair that she has had all of her life. When a stranger named Flynt Rider comes, he and Rapunzel go on some wild adventures that leave Rapunzel far from her norm.
The live-action adaptation will can preserve the core narrative as well as the musical tone of the animated feature, while providing a more authentic visual aesthetic for the characters and setting. That means Rapunzel’s tower, Corona’s castle, and the iconic lantern scene that has over time become one of Disney’s most classically recognizable contemporary animated sequences.
