Disney pauses live-action remakes after "Snow White" flops, "Tangled" on hold indefinitely

Disney has shelved 'Tangled.'

Disney is reportedly rethinking its strategy when it comes to live-action remakes, following the massive underperformance of the live-action Snow White starring Rachel Zegler and Gal Gadot.

Sources claim that the studio has put the live-action remake of 2010’s animated hit Tangled on hold, as Disney grapples with the fallout from Snow White's lackluster box office performance.

The live-action Tangled, based on the Brothers Grimm fairy tale of Rapunzel, was in active development with Michael Gracey, the director of The Greatest Showman, attached to direct. Jennifer Kaytin Robinson, the screenwriter behind Thor: Love and Thunder, was slated to pen the script.

The decision to halt the Tangled project follows the poor reception of Snow White, which has grossed just $69 million domestically and $145 million globally, a disappointing return for a film with a budget expected to be much higher.

The backlash surrounding Snow White has been intense, with criticisms directed at its story, screenplay, and especially Gal Gadot's performance, which many fans felt lacked the charisma and depth needed for her role as the Evil Queen.

The CGI dwarves were also widely panned, with many viewers finding them jarring and unrealistic.

The film’s disastrous reception has caused it to become the worst-rated movie on IMDb, with a dismal score of 1.6 out of 10, reflecting the widespread dissatisfaction.

Given these issues, it remains unclear whether the live-action Tangled remake will ever be revived or if Disney will ultimately scrap it entirely.

However, Disney is not abandoning its strategy of adapting animated classics entirely. The studio will still move forward with two upcoming live-action remakes: Lilo & Stitch, slated for release on May 23, and Moana, which is set to open on July 10, 2026.

The upcoming Moana remake benefits from the fresh memories of its animated sequel, Moana 2, which was a massive success last November. Meanwhile, the interest in Lilo & Stitch appears strong, as the Lilo & Stitch Super Bowl ad, featuring Stitch crashing the field, became Disney’s most viewed digital spot.

The trailer for Lilo & Stitch also had a remarkable debut, becoming the second-most viewed Disney live-action trailer of all time in its first 24 hours.

As for Tangled, the 2010 animated film grossed nearly $600 million worldwide and earned an Oscar nomination for Best Original Song.

With an 89% positive score on Rotten Tomatoes, it was widely loved by both critics and audiences, making the decision to put its live-action remake on hold all the more significant. Disney will have to rethink its approach if it plans to bring the magic of Tangled to live action in the future.