Disney has hit pause on its planned live-action remake of Tangled, halting development in the aftermath of Snow White failing to catch fire at the box office. Multiple outlets reported on April 3, 2025, that the project’s pre-production work was stopped as the studio reassessed its live-action strategy following the underwhelming performance of its latest remake.
At the time the brakes were applied, Tangled was set up with Michael Gracey (The Greatest Showman) attached to direct and Jennifer Kaytin Robinson (credited on projects including Thor: Love and Thunder) writing the script. But sources indicated Disney was no longer moving forward on the same track, at least not right then, and that the film could require a rethink or a creative overhaul if it ever comes back.
The decision was closely linked to the economics and optics of Snow White. Reporting around the pause pointed to Snow White’s heavy cost and relatively soft returns early in its run, with Entertainment Weekly citing a reported $270 million budget and about $145 million worldwide after roughly two weeks (including just under $70 million domestic at that point). Variety also reported the film cost north of $250 million before marketing.
What makes the Tangled pause notable is that it isn’t just one project wobbling—it’s a signal Disney is watching audience appetite for these remakes more cautiously than before. Even though some live-action reimaginings have been huge business, Snow White’s stumble raised a basic question for the studio: how many of these big-budget nostalgia plays can reliably deliver, and which animated titles are actually “must-see” enough to justify the spend.
