Disney’s decision to cast Teagan Croft and Milo Manheim as Rapunzel and Flynn Rider in the upcoming live-action Tangled is more than a routine studio announcement. It’s a moment that brings together two young careers shaped in very different corners of the entertainment industry and places them at the center of one of Disney’s most emotionally resonant modern fairy tales. For Croft and Manheim, this casting represents a defining professional pivot. For Disney, it signals an attempt to recalibrate its live-action remake strategy around character, performance, and long-term star power rather than pure nostalgia.
The original Tangled, released in 2010, occupies a unique space in Disney history. It arrived at a transitional moment for the studio, blending traditional fairy-tale storytelling with a contemporary sense of humor, emotional realism, and musical energy. Fifteen years later, it remains one of the most beloved films of Disney’s modern era. Reimagining it in live action is therefore not simply a matter of recreating familiar scenes. It requires performers who can embody growth, vulnerability, charm, and emotional credibility. In Teagan Croft and Milo Manheim, Disney appears to believe it has found exactly that balance.
Teagan Croft: From Australian Beginnings to a Disney Heroine
Teagan Croft did not emerge from the traditional Disney talent pipeline. Born in Sydney, Australia, she entered the industry early, working in Australian television and film before transitioning to international projects. Her earliest performances were shaped by genre storytelling rather than fairy tales, which may explain why her screen presence often carries an undercurrent of seriousness beneath youthful energy.
Her global breakout came with her casting as Rachel Roth, also known as Raven, in the DC series Titans. Over multiple seasons, Croft portrayed a character defined by emotional restraint, internal conflict, and a quiet but persistent struggle for self-control. It was not an easy role for a young actor. Raven demanded intensity, psychological nuance, and the ability to communicate inner turmoil without overt exposition. Croft’s performance was widely recognized for its maturity and consistency, particularly as the series evolved into darker and more complex territory.
That background is significant when considering her casting as Rapunzel. In animation, Rapunzel is often remembered for her brightness, optimism, and comic timing. But beneath that surface lies a story about emotional captivity, manipulation, and the slow realization that love can be controlling rather than protective. Croft’s experience playing characters shaped by confinement and internal struggle positions her well to explore the darker emotional layers of Rapunzel’s journey without losing the character’s warmth or curiosity.
Croft has also demonstrated her ability to carry a narrative emotionally in projects outside superhero television. Her work in biographical and dramatic roles showed a willingness to step away from genre comfort zones and into grounded, human storytelling. That willingness suggests a performer interested in longevity rather than typecasting, which aligns with Disney’s apparent interest in casting actors who can grow into their roles rather than simply fit them on day one.
As Rapunzel, Croft will face a unique challenge. The role requires not just acting but a transformation of presence. Rapunzel begins as sheltered and uncertain, then gradually becomes decisive, assertive, and self-possessed. It is a character arc built on internal change rather than external spectacle. For a live-action adaptation to succeed, that transformation must feel earned. Croft’s career to date suggests she understands how to build that kind of progression quietly and convincingly.
Milo Manheim: Disney Roots and a Push Toward Leading-Man Status
Milo Manheim arrives at Tangled from a very different professional direction. Raised in Los Angeles and immersed in the entertainment world from an early age, Manheim is the son of acclaimed actress Camryn Manheim. His career, however, has been defined by his own path, particularly within the Disney ecosystem.
Manheim became a household name for younger audiences through Disney Channel’s Zombies franchise, where he played Zed, a character designed to balance musical performance, romantic sincerity, and comedic accessibility. Those films were intentionally broad and upbeat, yet they required technical precision, especially in musical numbers. Manheim’s ease in those roles made him one of Disney’s most recognizable young performers of the late 2010s and early 2020s.
Unlike many actors who struggle to transition beyond Disney Channel, Manheim actively sought range. He appeared in darker genre projects, including horror and supernatural drama, and tested himself in live performance spaces such as musical theater. His stage work demonstrated a comfort with live singing, character timing, and audience connection, all of which are essential for a role like Flynn Rider.
Flynn Rider is deceptively complex. On the surface, he is charming, sarcastic, and confident. But the character’s emotional core lies in insecurity, shame, and a carefully constructed persona designed to hide vulnerability. For Flynn to work in live action, the actor must balance self-awareness with sincerity, comedy with emotional exposure. Manheim’s career trajectory suggests a performer actively working toward that balance.
In casting Manheim, Disney appears to be betting on familiarity without complacency. Audiences know him, particularly within Disney’s core demographic, but he has not yet been defined by a single iconic adult role. Flynn Rider offers an opportunity to reshape his public image from Disney Channel star to mainstream leading man, a transition Disney has historically managed with care when it believes in an actor’s long-term potential.
A Director Who Understands Spectacle and Emotion
The choice of director is just as important as the casting. Michael Gracey, best known for his work on The Greatest Showman, brings a specific sensibility to musical storytelling. Gracey’s films tend to emphasize emotional clarity within large-scale spectacle. His visual style favors heightened realism rather than grounded naturalism, which aligns well with the fairy-tale tone of Tangled.
Gracey’s approach suggests that the live-action Tangled will not attempt to downplay its fantasy elements. Instead, it is likely to lean into stylization, color, and musical expression, trusting that emotional authenticity can coexist with visual extravagance. For actors like Croft and Manheim, this environment offers both opportunity and risk. Their performances must be emotionally grounded enough to anchor the spectacle without becoming overshadowed by it.
The screenplay, written by Jennifer Kaytin Robinson, further signals Disney’s intent to modernize without dismantling the original story. Robinson’s past work often emphasizes character psychology, interpersonal tension, and sharp dialogue. That focus could allow the live-action Tangled to explore Rapunzel’s relationship with Mother Gothel in greater emotional detail, giving Croft material that extends beyond surface-level innocence.
Why Tangled Matters in Disney’s Current Moment
The timing of this project is crucial. Disney’s live-action remakes have experienced fluctuating reception in recent years. Some have performed exceptionally well, while others have struggled to connect with audiences who increasingly question the necessity of revisiting animated classics.
Tangled occupies a unique position within this landscape. It is recent enough to feel modern, yet distant enough to allow reinterpretation. Its themes of autonomy, emotional manipulation, and chosen identity resonate strongly with contemporary audiences, particularly younger viewers navigating similar questions in their own lives. That relevance gives the remake a narrative justification beyond nostalgia.
Casting Croft and Manheim reinforces that relevance. Both actors are part of a generation that grew up alongside the original Tangled. They understand its cultural footprint not as distant history but as lived experience. That generational proximity may influence how they approach the roles, bringing an instinctive understanding of what the story meant to audiences and why it still matters.
Chemistry, Growth, and Long-Term Impact
One of the defining strengths of the original Tangled was the chemistry between Rapunzel and Flynn Rider. Their relationship unfolds through humor, conflict, mutual learning, and emotional honesty. Recreating that dynamic in live action will be one of the adaptation’s greatest challenges.
Croft and Manheim approach this challenge from complementary directions. Croft’s strength lies in internal emotional work, while Manheim excels at external charm and rhythm. If those strengths align, the relationship could feel organic rather than manufactured. Disney’s history suggests that when chemistry works, it elevates the entire film; when it doesn’t, no amount of spectacle can compensate.
For both actors, Tangled represents a potential career inflection point. Success could position Croft as a leading figure in major studio productions and solidify Manheim’s transition into adult leading roles. Failure, while unlikely to end their careers, would still shape how studios perceive their bankability and range.
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Conclusion
The casting of Teagan Croft and Milo Manheim in Disney’s live-action Tangled is not simply a nostalgic nod to a beloved animated film. It is a calculated creative decision that reflects Disney’s evolving approach to remakes, star development, and storytelling relevance. Croft brings emotional depth shaped by years of genre-driven performance, while Manheim offers musical fluency and charismatic accessibility honed within Disney’s own ecosystem.
Together, they represent a bridge between the familiarity audiences crave and the authenticity they increasingly demand. Whether the film ultimately succeeds will depend on execution, chemistry, and the courage to let the story breathe in a new medium. But at this early stage, the casting itself suggests that Disney understands what Tangled has always been about: not spectacle for its own sake, but the quiet, powerful moment when someone steps into the light for the first time and chooses their own path.
