The live-action rendition of Tangled – Tangled is starting to come together, and finally after months of whispers, casting news is starting to get more concrete. The movie – also directed by Michael Gracey – has already snagged its two main characters: Teagan Croft will be playing Tangled, while Milo Manheim is set to be Flynn Rider. A young and up-and-coming pair, the choice seems to be an attempt to hook in a new generation of viewers while still respecting the legacy of the 2010 animated film. But the name that everyone’s really got their eyes on is the possible third cast member.
According to Variety, Kathryn Hahn is reportedly in talks to play Mother Gothel, the iconic villain of the story. For tons of fans, this possibility feels like the answer to a long running prayer. For years, people have been tossing Hahn’s name around as the perfect choice for the role on social media and in Disney forums: she’s got an uncanny ability to flip between irony, darkness and emotional complexity that’s made her a top contender for the part in countless discussions about a live-action Tangled. No surprise then that her stint as Agatha Harkness in the Marvel universe has people convinced she’d be perfect to play a charismatic, manipulative and affectionate villain like Mother Gothel.
In the original film, Mother Gothel’s a central figure – not just as an antagonist, but as the emotional driving force of the whole story: a fake mum who exploits Tangled in order to keep her own youth, using suffocating care to hide her controlling and selfish nature. She’s a complex character, requiring an acting performance that can swing between comedy and drama, sarcasm and genuine cruelty. In this sense, Hahn’s got the credentials to pull it off, as demonstrated by a career that’s taken her from sharp comedy to some pretty heavy roles.
The rest of the project looks solid: production’s being handled by Kristin Burr, while the script is by Jennifer Kaytin Robinson; and they’re hoping to get into production by the end of the year – with the aim of replicating, at the very least, some of the success of the animated feature film, which made almost $600 million worldwide back in 2010.
However, there is a legitimate question starting to get asked by the more eagle-eyed fans: Is this possible casting choice really inspired, or is it just a fairly predictable move? Putting Kathryn Hahn in another Disney villain role – after the success of her Agatha Harkness – might seem like playing it safe, perhaps even a bit lazy: cashing in on her popularity rather than really taking a risk. The only real answer will come when the film comes to life on the screen, but this much is certain – if the fans’ secret wish is about to come true, then expectations have never been higher.
