Well-known young actors participated in the auditions and screen "chemistry" tests.
Disney has started casting for the lead roles in the live-action feature film announced last December. The characters in question are Rapunzel — a brave princess with magical hair — and the self-assured thief Flynn Rider.
According to several sources, auditions and so-called "chemistry tests" recently took place in London, featuring both well-known and emerging actors. Among the candidates for the role of the Disney princess were Freya Skye, who made her debut in the Disney film "Zombies 4: Dawn of the Vampires" (2025), Sarah Catherine Hook ("The White Lotus"), Australian actress Teagan Croft ("Titans"), and Olivia-May Barrett ("Invasion"). The star of the series "This Summer I Became Beautiful," Lola Tun, was also considered for the role of Rapunzel, but she might not have been able to attend the auditions due to scheduling conflicts.
For the role of Flynn Rider, who helped Rapunzel escape from captivity, Milo Manheim — the star of the Disney "Zombies" franchise ("Zombies 4: Dawn of the Vampires") — and Charles Gillespie ("The Incredibly Loud and Extremely Close") auditioned. Both actors have previously showcased their vocal talents. Additionally, Scottish actor Jilly Jones participated in the casting.
The film will be directed by Michael Gracey ("The Greatest Showman"). Like the original animated film from 2010, the new version will be filled with large-scale musical numbers. Disney plans to begin filming the live-action adaptation of "Rapunzel: Tangled" in the UK in June 2026, although the timeline may be adjusted depending on the progress of the casting.
