Disney halts Tangled remake following Snow White box office disappointment
- Disney faced disappointment with Snow White's underwhelming box office, grossing only $145 million against a $270 million budget.
- The film encountered significant criticism concerning its casting and creative direction, particularly due to statements from lead actress Rachel Zegler.
- As a result of these challenges, Disney has placed the production of the live-action Tangled on hold to reassess future projects.
In the United States, Disney has recently decided to pause the production of a live-action remake of its animated film Tangled, following the poor box office performance of its latest release, Snow White. Released with a production budget of $270 million, Snow White has grossed only about $145 million worldwide, and its results prompted a reevaluation of Disney's strategy regarding live-action remakes. The film faced a great deal of negative publicity before its release, largely driven by social media activity from its lead actress, Rachel Zegler, as well as criticism directed at the film's creative choices. Concerns surrounding Zegler's public persona included her comments on political issues and social responsibility, leading some to speculate that this backlash negatively impacted the film's reception. Given these complications, Disney has opted to hit pause on another big-budget remake, trying to be cautious with future projects. While the Tangled remake is on hold, other live-action adaptations like Lilo & Stitch and Moana are still slated for release. Despite the uncertainty, there are ongoing discussions within the industry about casting decisions for such remakes, as original cast members, including Mandy Moore and Zachary Levi, have expressed their thoughts on potentially returning in cameo roles, which suggests there is still interest in the storyline.