Disney has officially confirmed the release date for its live-action Tangled adaptation. The studio showed the first footage of the film during the D23 fan event on Friday, August 14, 2026, at the Honda Center in Anaheim, California. The movie will hit theaters on March 31, 2028. The announcement came with a brief teaser that gave audiences their first look at Teagan Croft as Rapunzel and Kathryn Hahn as the villain Mother Gothel.
First Footage Shown at D23 Event
The D23 presentation showed a short clip from the live-action Tangled movie. The footage opened with a shot of Rapunzel’s long blonde hair spread across medieval cobblestone stairs. The camera then moved up to show Teagan Croft in the role, wearing the character’s purple dress. The teaser then cut to Kathryn Hahn as Mother Gothel, who stepped out from behind a door in a tunnel-like alley and called out “Rapunzel!”.
The crowd at the Honda Center reacted with loud cheers when they saw Hahn appear on screen. Social media users had previously expressed strong support for Hahn to play the villain, and Disney delivered on that fan wish.
The clip also included a video message from Croft and co-star Milo Manheim, who plays Flynn Rider. They appeared in costume and greeted fans from the film’s set in Spain.
Cast and Characters in Live-Action Tangled
Teagan Croft, known for playing Raven in the series Titans and Jessica Watson in True Spirit, will portray Rapunzel. Milo Manheim, who starred in Disney’s Zombies franchise and Paramount+’s School Spirits, will play Flynn Rider.
Kathryn Hahn, famous for her role as Agatha Harkness in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, takes on the role of Mother Gothel. Hahn appeared on stage at D23 to discuss her character. She shared her excitement about playing the Disney villain:
“I love playing Mother Gothel. She’s stunning, hilarious, fab, kind, generous to a fault. Might be overprotective but that’s because she cares so much.”
Hahn also spoke with Good Morning America about the production. She said filming is currently happening in Spain and described the experience as “magical”. She praised her co-stars Croft and Manheim, saying they are “so beautiful together”.
Caitríona Balfe, known for her role in Outlander, has joined the cast as Queen Arianna, Rapunzel’s mother. Diego Luna will play a new role created for the live-action version. Patrick and Hugo McPherson will play the Stabbington brothers, the twin villains from the original story.
Director and Production Team
Michael Gracey, who directed The Greatest Showman and Better Man, is directing the live-action Tangled. The screenplay comes from Jennifer Kaytin Robinson and Michael Montemayor. Kristin Burr is producing the film. Lucy Kitada and Jessica Virtue serve as executive producers.
Filming for the project began in Spain in June 2026. The production was previously put on hold in April 2025 after Disney’s Snow White adaptation underperformed at the box office. The studio revived the project in October 2025.
Background on the Original Animated Film
The original animated Tangled was released by Disney in 2010. It featured Mandy Moore as the voice of Rapunzel and Zachary Levi as Flynn Rider. The story follows Rapunzel, a princess with magical long hair who has spent her entire life locked in a tower. A runaway thief named Flynn Rider stumbles upon her tower, and she sets out to discover the world for the first time.
The animated film was a major success, earning $607.6 million at the global box office. Its song I See the Light received an Oscar nomination for Best Original Song at the 2011 ceremony. The film also earned Golden Globe nominations for Best Animated Feature and Best Original Song.
The success of the original led to several spinoffs, including the short film Tangled Ever After and the animated series Rapunzel’s Tangled Adventure.
Fan Reactions and Social Media Response
Social media users reacted positively to the first look and release date announcement. One fan on X expressed excitement, writing:
“It’s AMAZING to see a new Disney Animation movie! The story looks unique and the designs are very interesting!”
Another user shared their surprise at the concept, posting:
“This is nothing like I expected but I like It already!”
Some fans expressed caution about how the final film will turn out, with one comment noting concerns about studio interference . The announcement also sparked some confusion about the film’s title, with one forum user asking: “Wait I’m confused so is it called Flip or Clay lol” .
The character names have also varied across different reports, with some sources referring to the clay character as “Mushi” while others use “Mooshy”.
Related:
Disney’s 2028 Slate
Clay is set for a November 2028 theatrical release . The film joins a busy lineup for Disney Animation, which also announced Zootopia 3 and new additions to Hexed during the D23 showcase .
Pixar, Disney’s sister studio, also showed off its upcoming projects including Incredibles 3 and Coco 2 .
The D23 event, which runs from August 14 through August 16, 2026, at the Anaheim Convention Center and Honda Center, is Disney’s ultimate fan event where the studio makes its biggest announcements .
Also Read: Disney in Talks with Kathryn Hahn for Mother Gothel Role in Live-Action Tangled
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