Scarlett Johansson in Talks for Disney’s Live-Action ‘Tangled’

Los Angeles, CA — Disney has restarted early development on its live-action remake of “Tangled,” with Scarlett Johansson reportedly being considered for the role of Mother Gothel. The project, directed by Michael Gracey of “The Greatest Showman,” will be based on Disney’s 2010 animated film, with a script by Jennifer Kaytin Robinson.

Production was initially paused in April 2025 following the disappointing box office performance of Disney’s “Snow White.” However, renewed optimism has emerged after the success of other live-action adaptations, particularly “Lilo & Stitch,” which has grossed over $1.03 billion globally, making it the highest-grossing MPA title of 2025 so far.

The original “Tangled” movie grossed around $600 million worldwide and tells the story of Rapunzel, a young woman with magical hair who escapes her tower with the help of a thief, discovering freedom and her true identity. While there has been no official green light for the live-action adaptation, industry insiders suggest Disney is eager to revisit its animated classics.

Disney’s Live Action team, under current leadership, continues to explore retelling existing stories while also developing new intellectual properties, like the recently announced “Impossible Creatures.” Scarlett Johansson has had a notable year, making her directorial debut with “Eleanor the Great,” which earned a six-minute standing ovation at Cannes and holds a 94% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes.

Johansson has also starred in two films this summer: “The Phoenician Scheme” and “Jurassic World Rebirth,” which has generated $867.9 million worldwide. Overall, her films have amassed over $17.7 billion at the global box office.