Disney has officially announced the lead stars for its highly anticipated live-action reimagining of the 2010 animated hit, Tangled, with Australian actress Teagan Croft securing the coveted role of Rapunzel.
From Sydney to the Tower: Meet the New Rapunzel
The studio revealed the casting on its official social media channels on Thursday, sharing a photo of Croft alongside her co-star, American actor Milo Manheim, who will play Flynn Rider. The 21-year-old Sydney-born actress comes from a family deeply embedded in the entertainment industry; she is the niece of Home and Away star Penny McNamee and actress Jessica McNamee, known for Siren.
Croft, a former child actress, began her career with a small role in the 2016 season of Home and Away alongside her aunt Penny. Her breakout came later that year in the Australian sci-fi film The Osiris Child, which led to a recurring role in the HBO Max series Titans from 2018 to 2023. She most recently portrayed real-life solo sailor Jessica Watson in the 2023 Netflix film True Spirit.
A Competitive Casting Process
The role of Rapunzel was highly sought-after, with Croft reportedly beating significant competition. This included supermodel Gigi Hadid, 30, who confirmed she had auditioned in a September interview with Vogue. Other contenders were said to be young stars Freya Skye and Mckenna Grace.
Her new on-screen partner, Milo Manheim, is no stranger to Disney audiences, having starred in the studio's popular Zombies franchise. The live-action remake will be directed by acclaimed Australian filmmaker Michael Gracey, known for The Greatest Showman.
The Tangled Legacy and What's Next
The original animated Tangled, released 15 years ago, was a major box office success, earning US$592.5 million globally against a budget of US$260 million. The film, loosely based on the German Rapunzel fairy tale, featured beloved songs like 'I See the Light' and 'When Will My Life Begin?', voiced by Mandy Moore and Zachary Levi.
Disney's announcement confirmed that this new cinematic take will be a theatrical exclusive, with the caption simply stating: 'Coming only to theatres.' Croft herself marked the milestone with a playful comment on the post, writing: 'OMGGG WHO ARE THEYYYY.'
