The recent casting announcements for Disney’s live-action Tangled could indicate a shift in strategy for the company, potentially a move to correct course after some expensive projects didn’t perform as expected.
Teagan Croft, an Australian actress, will play Rapunzel in Disney’s upcoming live-action version of ‘Tangled’.
— Geeks + Gamers (@GeeksGamersCom) January 7, 2026
I was so excited to read in The Hollywood Reporter that Disney has chosen Teagan Croft to play Rapunzel and Milo Manheim as Flynn Rider for their live-action Tangled! Honestly, the reaction to the casting has been mostly positive, which is interesting in itself. It feels like people are just relieved to see good choices being made, and that says something, doesn’t it?
While recent Disney live-action remakes have faced controversy even before coming out, Tangled is getting attention because its actors closely resemble the characters from the animated film.
The difference is hard to miss, particularly considering how Disney’s recent live-action remakes have performed.
A Pattern Disney Can No Longer Dismiss
Disney has made a lot of live-action versions of its classic animated films in the last ten years, and their success at the box office has varied greatly. Movies that closely resembled their original animated counterparts in look and feel generally performed very well financially.
- Beauty and the Beast crossed $1.26 billion worldwide.
- Aladdin followed with over $1 billion.
- The Lion King soared past $1.6 billion globally.
The recent live-action remake of Lilo & Stitch did very well in theaters, earning over a billion dollars and continuing a successful pattern for Disney.
By contrast, Disney’s most aggressively reinterpreted princess projects have struggled badly.
Despite significant costs for production and advertising, The Little Mermaid didn’t perform as well as expected. Similarly, Snow White was a major commercial flop and is considered one of the studio’s biggest box office failures in recent years.
The numbers speak clearly—even if Disney executives have not.
From “Reimagining” to Reassessment
Disney hasn’t actually said they’re changing direction, not in any official way. I haven’t seen a press release or heard any executive confirm it. But honestly, as a follower, I’m seeing their actions tell a different story. It seems like their strategy is shifting, even if they aren’t talking about it directly. It’s becoming clear through what they do, not what they say.
Looking at it that way, the choices made when casting Tangled seem less like luck and more like a deliberate adjustment of strategy.
Instead of offering a fresh, new take on the story, Disney seems to be focusing on what fans already love. They’re choosing actors who look and feel like the animated characters we all know. This is different from other recent adaptations where the main point was how different they were.
Why Tangled Matters More Than It Seems
Released in 2010, Tangled is a significant film in Disney’s recent history. Many consider it the beginning of a new golden age for Disney Animation, praising its funny, heartwarming story, memorable songs, and engaging characters. The movie was a major box office success, earning $591 million globally, and it also led to a popular TV series on the Disney Channel.
As a huge Disney fan, I get why they’re so careful with Tangled. After the trouble they had with the remake of Snow White – both financially and how people reacted – Disney’s really hesitant to mess with another classic that people already love. They just don’t want to risk another big upset!
From that perspective, faithful casting is not conservative—it’s strategic.
An Ideological Lesson Learned?
Disney’s recent movie performance shows people aren’t necessarily against live-action remakes. They just don’t like them when they don’t feel true to the original stories they enjoy.
Movies that stayed true to their original characters and looked consistent with previous installments did well, while those that tried to drastically change things didn’t. This sends a pretty clear signal to Disney, regardless of whether they call it a change in beliefs or a new creative direction.
The outcome is the same: familiarity sells, controversy doesn’t.
Casting as a Signal, Not a Statement
The casting choices in Tangled weren’t about making grand statements. Instead, they subtly rebuilt audience trust, and that was far more powerful.
Disney is choosing lead actors who look like familiar, beloved animated characters, which shows a cautious approach. Right now, that careful strategy might actually be their most daring one.
Rapunzel and Flynn Rider have been cast for Tangled!
They’re not ugly and not race swapped?
This is a good start!
— mrphillipchan 🥚🇺🇲 (@mrphillipchan) January 7, 2026
It’s still unclear if this will be a permanent change or just a temporary fix. However, if Tangled proves successful unlike other recent Disney remakes, the company will likely have to pay attention to what made it work.
Sometimes, the smartest evolution is remembering what worked in the first place.
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2026-01-08 18:58