When Disney pulled the plug on its live-action remake of Tangled, most fans assumed the project hadn’t progressed far beyond early development. But a new claim suggests it was further along than many realized—and had already attracted major talent.
In a post on social media, respected scooper @MyTimeToShineHello stated that Scarlett Johansson was in talks to join the film.
“Before the project was put on hold, Scarlett Johansson was in talks to play Mother Gothel in the live action Tangled movie.”
Before the project was put on hold, Scarlett Johansson was in talks to play Mother Gothel in the live action Tangled movie pic.twitter.com/dWpnaO0i0t
— MyTimeToShineHello (@MyTimeToShineH) July 5, 2025
That reveal has sparked fresh interest in the canceled remake, which had once been seen as a likely addition to Disney’s billion-dollar live-action slate.
The Remake That Didn’t Make It
The live-action version of Tangled had been quietly developing behind the scenes, with The Greatest Showman director Michael Gracey attached and Jennifer Kaytin Robinson—known for co-writing Thor: Love and Thunder—working on the script.
The original animated film, released in 2010, followed Rapunzel as she escaped her tower and teamed up with Flynn Rider to chase the mysterious floating lights. It was a critical and commercial hit, later spawning an animated short and a Disney Channel series.
For the remake, Florence Pugh was reportedly Disney’s first choice for Rapunzel. Other actresses floated for the role included Girl Meets World star and “Espresso” singer Sabrina Carpenter and Mean Girls reboot lead Avantika. As for the villainous Mother Gothel, fans had speculated about Kathryn Hahn—but no official casting was confirmed until the Johansson rumor surfaced.
The Fallout from ‘Snow White’
The cancellation of Tangled appears tied to the fallout from Snow White, Disney’s live-action adaptation of the 1937 classic.
The film, released earlier this year, became a lightning rod for controversy—much of it centered on lead actress Rachel Zegler, who made divisive public comments about the original story. The tension escalated when Zegler and co-star Gal Gadot voiced opposing stances on the Israeli–Palestinian conflict, sparking even more backlash online.
With Snow White costing up to $270 million and earning only $205.7 million at the box office, Disney quietly re-evaluated its remake strategy. Several projects already in production—including Moana and Lilo & Stitch—continued as planned. Tangled, however, was not among them.
Johansson’s Complicated Disney History
The idea of Scarlett Johansson returning for a major Disney role isn’t entirely surprising—though the timing is notable. The actress played Natasha Romanoff, aka Black Widow, for over a decade in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and had a well-publicized legal battle with Disney in 2021 after Black Widow was released on Disney+ during the pandemic.
Despite the tension, both parties appear to have moved on. Johansson is currently attached to a film based on the Twilight Zone Tower of Terror, continuing Disney’s push into theme park-inspired content.
Casting Johansson opposite Florence Pugh would have reunited the pair after their well-received dynamic in Black Widow, in which they portrayed adoptive sisters trained in the Red Room. That emotional storyline has continued to ripple through the MCU, particularly in the wake of Natasha’s death in Avengers: Endgame.
Whether Tangled will return to Disney’s live-action slate remains to be seen. But if Lilo & Stitch proves to be a box office success, the studio may be tempted to revive what could have been another star-driven remake—with Johansson stepping into the spotlight once more.
Do you think Scarlett Johansson is a good fit for Mother Gothel?
