Thescreescore – The beloved voice behind Disney’s charming rogue, Flynn Rider, in the 2010 animated hit Tangled, Zachary Levi, has finally shared his candid thoughts on the highly anticipated live-action adaptation. As the House of Mouse continues its ambitious journey of reimagining animated classics, Levi offers a unique perspective on the forthcoming cinematic endeavor, expressing both deep affection for the original and hopeful anticipation for its successor.
Tangled, a vibrant retelling of the Brothers Grimm’s Rapunzel, is set to leap from its animated origins to live-action, with a new generation of talent stepping into iconic roles. Teagan Croft will portray Rapunzel, Milo Manheim takes on the mantle of Flynn Rider, and Kathryn Hahn is slated as the formidable Mother Gothel, succeeding Mandy Moore, Levi, and Donna Murphy, respectively.
In an exclusive conversation with Liam Crowley for The Fix, published by thescreescore.com, Levi articulated his enthusiastic support for the new cast and the continuation of the Tangled legacy. "I’m stoked for all those guys," he declared, emphasizing his profound connection to the intellectual property. "I care very deeply about the IP and the world, and the new Flynn Rider, and we all care about that. And I want that live-action movie to be great."
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Levi, a veteran of both animation and live-action projects including Shazam! and The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, acknowledged the inherent challenges in adapting cherished stories. "Unfortunately, not all of the time that we remake things, whether from animated to another, or we do sequels or whatever, it doesn’t always work," he reflected. Despite this industry reality, his aspirations for the Tangled remake remain high. "I want them to work. I want it to be beautiful. I want audiences to be like, ‘I got everything that I loved about the animated movie in that live-action movie.’"
Disney’s track record with live-action remakes has been a mixed bag of critical and commercial fortunes. While films like The Jungle Book and Beauty and the Beast found widespread acclaim, others faced significant hurdles. Snow White, for instance, encountered controversy and reported substantial financial losses, while the recent live-action Moana, despite Dwayne Johnson reprising his role as Maui, saw an underwhelming box office performance. Conversely, Lilo & Stitch emerged as a surprising billion-dollar success, even greenlighting a sequel for May 2028, just two months after Tangled‘s scheduled release.
The original Tangled set a high bar, grossing an impressive $592 million globally in 2010 and earning a "Certified Fresh" rating of 89% on Rotten Tomatoes. Its cultural impact extended to award nominations at the Academy Awards and Golden Globes, securing a Grammy for Best Song Written for Visual Media. The franchise further expanded with the short film Tangled Ever After, the TV movie Tangled: Before Ever After, and the animated series Rapunzel’s Tangled Adventure.
Now, in 2028, Tangled will be revisited once more under the direction of Michael Gracey, with a screenplay penned by Jennifer Kaytin Robinson and Michael Montemayor. While Zachary Levi will not be reprising his role as Flynn Rider in this new iteration, his heartfelt well wishes for Milo Manheim and the entire cast and crew underscore a genuine desire for the film’s triumph. His endorsement, coming from the character’s original voice, offers a compelling vote of confidence as the live-action Tangled prepares to enchant a new generation.
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