Kathryn Hahn To Play Mother Gothel in Tangled Live Action Film

The stage and screen star teased the news in a joint Instagram post with Disney Studios.

March 11, 2026 By Meg Masseron, Logan Culwell-Block

Kathryn Hahn (Kathy Hutchins/Shutterstock.com)

Stage and screen star Kathryn Hahn has teased the news of her casting as Mother Gothel in the upcoming Tangled live action adaptation. Hahn joins a previously announced cast including Teagan Croft (Titans) as Rapunzel and Milo Manheim (Zombies) as Rider.

Hahn hinted at the news in a joint Instagram post with Disney Studios, where she showed her "outfit of the day," featuring a trendy shirt with a collage of images of her cartoon counterpart from the 2010 animated film.

In a comment section full of excitement and congratulatory messages from fans and fellow stars alike, Broadway favorite Donna Murphy—who voiced Mother Gothel in the original animated film—heartily gave her stamp of approval, writing: "KATHRYN!! From one Mother to another … Congrats ! And remember… I love you MOST."

The project, which doesn't yet have a release date or details of what to expect in terms of the original film's songs, has been in development since late 2024, and would become the latest in a long line of Disney live-action remakes like Beauty and the Beast, Aladdin, Mulan, The Little Mermaid, Snow White, Lilo & Stitch, and Moana.

The original film features songs by Disney and Broadway stalwarts Alan Menken and Glenn Slater, and includes vocal performances from Broadway vets Murphy, Brad Garrett, Jeffrey Tambor, and Zachary Levi. Among the original songs are "Mother Knows Best," "I See the Light," "When Will My Life Begin?," and "I've Got a Dream."

Manheim is memorable to musical theatre fans, either from his musical screen performances in the Zombies franchise or on stage as Seymour Krelborn in Off-Broadway's Little Shop of Horrors revival.

The remake is being directed by Michael Gracey (The Greatest Showman) with Jennifer Kaytin penning the screenplay. Kristin Burr is producing, and Lucy Kitada is serving as executive producer.