Rapunzel, Rapunzel, release your grand cinematic aspirations.
Following the poor box office showing of "Snow White," Disney has decided to temporarily halt development on its intended live-action adaptation of the 2010 animated success "Tangled," as reported by various sources on Thursday.
The Hollywood Reporter was the first to unveil this information. Entertainment Weekly andDeadline subsequently verified the report.
"Tangled," a reinterpretation of the Brothers Grimm fairytale "Rapunzel," was under active development, with "The Greatest Showman" director Michael Gracey set to direct the movie based on a screenplay by Jennifer Kaytin Robinson ("Thor: Love and Thunder" and "Do Revenge"), sources revealed to THR.
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As per Deadline, the film had entered pre-production, and discussions with possible lead actors were ongoing when Disney decided to cancel it. According to the same source, "Snow White," which underperformed financially—having made only $69 million domestically and $145 million globally from its $270 million budget—prompted Disney to reassess their strategy regarding other upcoming live-action remakes based on their classic animation catalog.
The "Snow White" remake has been plagued by controversy nearly from the moment it was included in Disney's lineup. approach to Disney's 1937 animated masterpiece's "seven dwarfs" Drew debated throughout the lead-up to the remake’s release on March 21, while actress Rachel Zegler, who faced criticism for being cast as a Latina, consistently provided fuel for right-leaning commentators through her social media posts criticizing Donald Trump supporters and backing the Palestinian cause.
The "West Side Story" newcomer, aged 23, also faced an uncomfortable confrontation with her co-actor Gal Gadot, 39, an Israeli actress who has served in the Israel Defense Forces, due to their contrasting political opinions.
Despite the scandals surrounding it, both critics and audience members did not find "Snow White" exceptionally appealing, as the film received a modest B+ CinemaScore from viewers (ratings lower than an A- are typically seen as underwhelming).
"Tangled" initially seemed like an obvious pick for a live-action adaptation. Featuring Mandy Moore and Zachary Levi, the 2010 animated film was highly successful, earning just under $600 million worldwide.
Disney’s approach of drawing from its treasure trove of intellectual property for live-action adaptations was successful financially before "Snow White." Recent revivals like those of "The Lion King," "Beauty and the Beast," and "Aladdin" each surpassed $1 billion worldwide. Nonetheless, not all these repurposed tales have fared well at the box office, as seen with "Dumbo" and "Pete’s Dragon."
Two forthcoming live-action adaptations from Disney might bring optimism for Mickey and company. "Lilo & Stitch," a redo of the cherished 2002 film, is set to premiere in theaters on May 23.
The trailer for the film was the second-most-viewed Disney live-action trailer of all time. Next June, Disney fans will get a live-action treatment of “Moana,” a franchise that has been both a streaming and box office success ( "Moana 2" earned over $1 billion at the box office. following its release last November).