At Last: The Real Reason Disney Axed Tangled 2

Disney wrung every dollar out of Tangled back in 2010, but if you ever wondered why the Mouse House never cooked up a full-on sequel, you’re not alone. Turns out, we finally have a pretty straightforward answer — right from the guy who directed the original.

They Tried to Crack a Sequel — Here's Why That Didn't Work

Nathan Greno, the director of Tangled, recently broke down what went on behind the scenes after the movie became a huge hit. The creative team actually did brainstorm ideas for a Tangled 2 — they even escaped the Disney compound for a special off-site meeting with all the original brains in the same room. According to Greno, after hours and hours of discussion, everyone left pretty much empty-handed. His words sum it up:

'We actually did an off-site at Disney, and we got the original team together, and we really all talked about it for hours, and we kind of walked away saying, "We couldn’t find a story worth telling."'

The main snag? Greno says the original ending for Rapunzel was basically a period at the end of her story. She went from captive princess to fully realized adult with her own agency — and the team couldn’t come up with a sequel that didn’t feel like an afterthought or a cash grab. As he put it, once Pinocchio becomes a real boy or the Beast turns human, what’s left to say?

Why Not Just Do It For the Money?

If you’re thinking, 'Disney never met a sequel it didn't like,' you're not wrong. But Greno claims the Tangled team had at least a little artistic restraint: they didn't want to tack on a continuation unless the new story earned its keep. There simply wasn’t enough fresh ground to cover with Rapunzel, Flynn, and the gang.

What Did We Get Instead?

Well, Disney did toss fans a small bone: the six-minute short Tangled Ever After in 2012, which checks the 'Rapunzel and Eugene wedding' box without pretending there was enough substance for another movie.

But Wait, Tangled Is Coming Back — In a New Form

Of course, this is Disney, so the franchise isn’t actually done. There’s a live-action remake in the pipeline — because apparently, the world needs human versions of sentient frying pans. Here’s what you should know about the reboot:

• Director: Michael Gracey (the guy responsible for The Greatest Showman)
• Rapunzel: Teagan Croft
• Flynn Rider: Milo Manheim
• Mother Gothel: Kathryn Hahn
• Filming is expected to get underway this summer
• If all goes according to plan, look for the movie to hit theaters mid-to-late 2027

So, no, you’re probably never getting a proper Tangled 2 — but at least there’ll be a new take to argue about in a few years. Let’s just hope whoever’s in charge found more inspiration than the sequel braintrust did.