Disney is in discussion with Kathryn Hahn to play Mother Gothel in the upcoming live-action adaptation of Tangled.
Development for the live-action Tangled resumed in October 2025 after a long hiatus. Scarlett Johansson was initially considered for the role of Mother Gothel. However, the actor ultimately had to opt out because of scheduling conflicts due to The Batman II and the Exorcist reboot.
Gothel serves as the villain in the 2010 animated film. The character kidnapped Rapunzel after her mother ate a flower that kept her youthful during her pregnancy. Losing her resource for eternal beauty, she took the princess away from her parents when she was a baby so she could use her hair to keep herself young.
Johansson's potential casting was met with a lot of excitement. However, just as many fans took to social media to argue that Hahn, who has played the antagonist WandaVision and pseudo-antihero in Agatha All Along, would be a better fit for the villainous part due to her strong performances in those roles.
The recent development about Hahn comes shortly after Disney confirmed the actors who would be taking on the lead roles in the live-action Tangled. Teagan Croft, best known for her role on Titans, has been cast as Rapunzel, while Milo Manheim of the Zombies
The director of The Greatest Showman, Michael Gracey, is slated to direct Tangled. The live-action adaptation is being written by Jennifer Kaytin Robinson (Thor: Love and Thunder). The original animated film is considered one of Disney's best modern-era fairytales. Upon its original release, Tangled earned nearly $592 million at the global box office. It also received an Academy Award nomination for Best Original Song (I See the Light by Alan Menken and Glenn Slater).
Hahn’s potential involvement could bring a whole new demographic to the film, as she is often hailed as one of the MCU's most versatile actors. She has also been nominated for several Emmy Awards, including Best Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series (The Studio), Best Lead Actress in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie (Tiny Beautiful Things), and Best Supporting Actress in a Limited Series or Movie (Marvel’s WandaVision).
There is currently no release date for the live-action Tangled at the time of this article's publication. The original animated film is available on Disney+.
