Disney’s Tangled Remake Misses a Golden Casting Opportunity

Disney’s much-discussed live-action adaptation of Tangled has found its Rapunzel in Teagan Croft, best known for her role in Titans. With the lead secured, attention has shifted to the pivotal role of Mother Gothel, the character who keeps Rapunzel hidden away in a tower. Early speculation linked Scarlett Johansson to the part, but recent reports suggest Kathryn Hahn, another familiar face from the Marvel universe, is now in serious contention.

Hahn hasn’t been shy about her interest in the role. She’s even joked about her karaoke skills, a nod to the musical demands of the character.

Yes! I mean, I’m really good at karaoke.

Her performance in Agatha All Along certainly demonstrated she’s got the vocal chops, and many reckon she’d bring a proper dose of charisma to the villainous Gothel. Still, there’s a sense among some fans that Disney may have overlooked an even more inspired choice.

Fans’ Favourite: Cher as Mother Gothel

For years, Cher has been a popular pick in fan circles for the role of Mother Gothel. The resemblance between the pop icon and the animated character is striking, and that’s no accident. The creative team behind Tangled actually drew inspiration from Cher when designing Gothel’s look. Director Bryan Howard once admitted,

It’s true! Maybe because she’s too Gothic and exotic looking. She was one of the people we looked at. She was a hard character to crack, and Glen struggled with that for years.

The parallels go beyond appearance. Mother Gothel’s obsession with youth and Cher’s ageless persona would have made for a rather clever bit of casting.

Despite the visual and thematic fit, Cher doesn’t appear to be in the running. Instead, the focus remains on Hahn, whose enthusiasm for the part is hard to miss. It’s a choice that’s likely to divide opinion, especially among those who had their hearts set on seeing Cher bring the character to life.

Remake or Rehash?

All this talk of casting raises a broader question: is there really a need to revisit Tangled at all? The original film, released in 2010, still holds up remarkably well. For many, the decision to remake it feels less like a creative endeavour and more like a calculated move from Disney’s corporate playbook. Whether audiences will embrace a new version or stick with the animated classic remains to be seen.

As the debate continues, viewers are left to wonder who will ultimately step into Mother Gothel’s shoes. Would Cher have been the perfect fit, or will Hahn surprise everyone? The conversation is far from over.

Tangled is available to stream on Disney+.