Disney Tests Young Actors for Lead Roles in Live-Action ‘Tangled’

Disney has begun screen tests and chemistry reads in London for its upcoming live-action adaptation of ‘Tangled’. Several rising performers are vying for the iconic parts originally voiced in the 2010 animated film.

Actresses testing for Rapunzel include Sarah Catherine Hook from ‘The White Lotus’, Teagan Croft from ‘Titans’, Freya Skye from ‘Zombies 4: Dawn of the Vampires’, and Olivia-Mai Barrett from ‘Invasion’. Lola Tung from ‘The Summer I Turned Pretty’ was considered but did not participate due to a potential scheduling conflict.

Actors testing for Flynn Rider include Milo Manheim from the ‘Zombies’ franchise, Charlie Gillespie from ‘Julie and the Phantoms’ and ‘Splitsville’, and Gilli Jones.

Scarlett Johansson, previously attached to portray Mother Gothel, is no longer involved in the project. She will instead film Mike Flanagan’s ‘The Exorcist’ reboot and ‘The Batman Part II’ next year.

The production, directed by Michael Gracey of ‘The Greatest Showman’ and ‘Better Man’, plans to retain the musical elements from the original animated feature. Mandy Moore and Zachary Levi provided the voices for Rapunzel and Flynn Rider in the 2010 version.

Casting decisions are expected soon. Filming is scheduled to start in the United Kingdom in June, though dates remain subject to change.

This adaptation joins Disney’s ongoing series of live-action remakes of its animated classics. The studio continues to prioritize reimagining popular titles with new talent.

The testing process involves chemistry reads to ensure strong on-screen pairing between the leads. Performers were selected based on their prior roles in youth-oriented projects and musical experience.

Disney has not announced official casting yet. The project moves forward without a confirmed release window.

The original ‘Tangled’ featured songs by Alan Menken and Glenn Slater. The live-action version will incorporate similar musical numbers.

Gracey brings experience from visually ambitious films. His direction emphasizes spectacle and performance in musical sequences.

The London location allows access to international talent pools. Many Disney remakes have utilized UK facilities for production.

This development marks another step in Disney’s strategy to revisit its animated library. Recent examples include live-action versions of ‘The Little Mermaid’ and ‘Snow White’.

Young actors testing represent a mix of Disney Channel alumni and streaming series stars. Their involvement signals a focus on appealing to contemporary audiences familiar with these performers.