Kathryn Hahn’s Mother Gothel Just Stole the Show at D23 as Disney’s Live-Action ‘Tangled’ Finally Sets a Release Date
Disney’s live-action remake pipeline has had a famously mixed track record, with fans often approaching each new announcement with a healthy dose of skepticism rather than excitement. Every casting reveal seems to spark the same debate over whether these reimaginings can actually capture the magic of the animated originals.
‘Tangled‘ seemed destined for that same uncertain reception, at least until one specific casting choice completely shifted the conversation. Fans had spent months campaigning online for a very particular actress to take on the film’s iconic villain, and that wish quietly became reality earlier this year.
That anticipation finally paid off at D23, where Disney confirmed Kathryn Hahn’s live-action ‘Tangled’ will officially arrive in theaters on March 31, 2028, alongside a brief first-look teaser that sent the Anaheim crowd into a frenzy. The footage tracked along Rapunzel’s famously long blonde hair before revealing Kathryn Hahn’s Mother Gothel emerging from a shadowy doorway, exclaiming “Rapunzel!”
According to those in attendance, the entire Honda Center erupted the moment Hahn’s face appeared on screen, a clear sign that fans’ longtime campaign for her casting had paid off. Hahn then took the stage herself, joking about her character’s parenting style before officially embracing the role.
“She may be a little overprotective, but that’s because she cares so much,” Hahn told the D23 crowd, adding that Gothel is “the best kind of villain, the kind who thinks she’s actually a hero.” It was a lighthearted moment that captured exactly why fans have been so enthusiastic about her casting since the news first broke.
Hahn’s path to Mother Gothel wasn’t entirely straightforward. Scarlett Johansson had originally been circling the role before scheduling conflicts with ‘The Batman Part II’ and an ‘Exorcist’ reboot forced her to step away, clearing the path for Hahn to officially confirm her casting back in March through a playful Instagram video showing off a Gothel-themed t-shirt.
Joining Hahn in the film are Teagan Croft as Rapunzel and Milo Manheim as Flynn Rider, both relative newcomers stepping into roles originated in the 2010 animated classic. Croft and Manheim also sent a virtual message from the film’s production in Spain, appearing in costume to greet fans directly from set.
Diego Luna rounds out the cast in an original character created specifically for this adaptation, while Patrick and Hugo McPherson play the villainous Stabbington brothers. Michael Gracey, the director behind ‘The Greatest Showman’ and ‘Better Man’, is helming the project from a screenplay by Jennifer Kaytin Robinson.
Disney leaned fully into the moment during the reveal, filling the arena with floating lanterns as a direct nod to one of the animated film’s most iconic and beloved sequences. It’s the kind of theatrical touch that’s become a hallmark of Disney’s biggest D23 reveals, designed to make fans feel like they’re stepping directly into the story.
Production has been underway in Spain for several weeks now, with location filming taking place at sites including Burgos Cathedral for scenes set within the kingdom. Early set photos of Hahn in character had already begun circulating online ahead of the official D23 unveiling.
With a firm release date now locked in and Hahn’s take on Mother Gothel generating this much buzz, ‘Tangled’ has quickly become one of the most anticipated entries in Disney’s live-action slate.
What do you think of Kathryn Hahn as Mother Gothel?
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