Kathryn Hahn has officially been cast as Mother Gothel in Disney’s upcoming live-action adaptation of Tangled. The story centers on Rapunzel, played by Teagan Croft, who is kept hidden by Mother Gothel to exploit the magical healing properties of her long, golden hair.
Development and Casting Updates for Tangled
Negotiations for Hahn’s role were first reported in January, with earlier news from October revealing renewed development on the project. Scarlett Johansson was initially considered for Mother Gothel but stepped away due to scheduling conflicts involving her work on the Batman II and The Exorcist reboot films. Hahn later confirmed her involvement via a social media post, demonstrating a playful nod to the character with a T-shirt featuring the animated Mother Gothel, originally voiced by Donna Murphy. Notably, Hahn’s Instagram handle is @motherhahn.
Additional Casting and Production Details
Milo Manheim, known for his work in the Zombies franchise, is cast as Flynn Rider, the charming rogue often referred to as “The Smolder.” Michael Gracey, director of The Greatest Showman, will direct the film, which is based on a script draft by Jennifer Kaytin Robinson, who previously wrote Do Revenge and Someone Great. The project is produced by Kristin Burr of Burr! Productions, with Lucy Kitada serving as executive producer.
Background on the Original Tangled and Live-Action Adaptations
The original 2010 animated Tangled was directed by Nathan Greno and Byron Howard and featured Mandy Moore as Rapunzel and Zachary Levi as Flynn Rider. The film, which retells the Brothers Grimm Rapunzel fairy tale, earned over $590 million worldwide and received an Oscar nomination for its original song, “I See The Light,” composed by Alan Menken with lyrics by Glenn Slater. Disney continues its live-action adaptations with projects like Moana, starring Dwayne Johnson and Catherine Laga’aia, scheduled for release this July.
Significance of Casting Kathryn Hahn for Mother Gothel
Kathryn Hahn’s casting as Mother Gothel brings a fresh presence to this iconic villain, promising to add depth to Disney’s live-action reimagining. With a talented cast and experienced creative team involved, Tangled is poised to attract both longtime fans and new audiences. As production progresses, anticipation builds for how this retelling will expand on the beloved fairy tale’s themes and characters.
