After months of development, casting for the iconic roles of Rapunzel and Flynn Rider has begun, signaling progress on the long-teased remake — even as early plans to include Avengers alum Scarlett Johansson have dissolved.
🎬 Casting Kicks Off
According to industry reporting, Disney is now actively testing actors for the lead roles in the film.
The search for Rapunzel has narrowed to a group of up-and-coming performers who are being considered in screen tests, with several young actresses already taking part in auditions.
At the same time, actors are also being evaluated for the charismatic adventurer Flynn Rider.
The movie’s director remains Michael Gracey, known for The Greatest Showman and other large-scale musical projects, signaling that Disney intends to lean into the original film’s musical and theatrical flair.
Principal photography is expected to begin in the United Kingdom and Spain in summer 2026 as long as casting decisions can be finalized in time.
🌟 Scarlett Johansson’s Exit and New Roles
Earlier in 2025, Johansson had been linked to the role of Mother Gothel, the story’s cunning antagonist who keeps Rapunzel locked away in her tower.
Rumors and industry chatter suggested she was in talks to take on the part, with her high profile seen as a potential anchor for the project.
However, those plans have shifted. Recent reports indicate that Johansson has stepped away from the Tangled remake due to scheduling conflicts — notably her commitment to appear in The Batman Part II and a reboot of The Exorcist.
Her busy slate for 2026 now reportedly makes it incompatible to fit Tangled into her calendar.
While Johansson’s move into a major DC project like The Batman Part II isn’t yet officially confirmed by Warner Bros.
or the actress, multiple outlets are reporting she’s lined up to play an unspecified role opposite returning cast members.
🎭 What This Means for Tangled
With Johansson no longer attached, Disney’s live-action Tangled may lean more heavily on fresh faces and relative newcomers instead of marquee stars.
This approach mirrors recent trends at the studio, where casting emerging talent for reimagined classics has become more common following mixed reactions to some prior live-action remakes.
The absence of a major name like Johansson also potentially gives the creative team more freedom to shape Mother Gothel — and the rest of the cast — without the pressure of star expectations.
It remains unclear who might fill the role now, but industry watchers expect Disney will look at a range of performers with strong acting and musical capabilities.
📅 Next Steps and Expectations
At this stage:
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Casting continues for Rapunzel and Flynn Rider with screen tests underway.
The project still has no official release date but is targeting filming to begin in mid-2026.
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Scarlett Johansson is no longer involved with Tangled due to her commitments on other major films.
For fans of the original animated Tangled, the news marks a hopeful step forward in bringing Rapunzel’s story to life with a new cast and creative vision — even as one potential star opts for other blockbuster opportunities.
Would you like a breakdown of the leading contenders for Rapunzel and Flynn Rider as well? (There’s a growing list of names trending online.)
