Kathryn Hahn has officially debuted as Mother Gothel in Disney’s live-action Tangled, with first-look footage and a March 2028 release date revealed at D23.
The unveiling came on Friday, August 14, as Disney showcased Hahn, 51, in full costume alongside Teagan Croft, 20, as Rapunzel and Milo Manheim, 24, as Flynn Rider. The studio confirmed the film will hit theaters March 31, 2028. Production is currently underway in Spain under director Michael Gracey, known for The Greatest Showman.
Hahn’s casting confirmation first emerged in March 2026, when she posted a video to Instagram in collaboration with Walt Disney Studios. In the clip, she wore a black T-shirt featuring images of the animated Mother Gothel from the 2010 original film.
“Hey, OOTD — just found out what that stands for,” Hahn said in the video, referencing the social media shorthand for “outfit of the day.” “So here’s my outfit of the day: simple jeans, glasses, T-shirt… Easy. You know, just another day.”
The post’s caption read simply, “OOTD, Mother Gothel.” Hahn also updated her Instagram bio to “mother knows best,” a direct nod to her character’s signature song from the animated classic.
The casting fulfilled months of intense fan campaigning across social media platforms. Online supporters had aggressively fan-cast Hahn in the role even when Scarlett Johansson was previously in negotiations for the part. Johansson ultimately stepped away to pursue other projects, including a Batman sequel and The Exorcist reboot.
Donna Murphy, who voiced Mother Gothel in the original animated film, enthusiastically endorsed Hahn’s casting in an Instagram comment. “KATHRYN!! From one Mother to another … Congrats! And remember… I love you MOST,” she wrote.
Hahn’s villainous turn follows her critically acclaimed performance as Agatha Harkness in Marvel’s WandaVision and its spin-off Agatha All Along. That role earned her a Golden Globe nomination and an Emmy nod, establishing her as a formidable presence in Disney’s villain pantheon. Her recent credits also include the Apple TV+ series The Studio, for which she received another Emmy nomination.
Manheim, speaking to Entertainment Tonight about his casting as Flynn Rider, acknowledged the weight of fan expectations. “I’m nervous about a lot of things, I’m not going to lie,” he said. “I really respect Flynn in this movie, it’s one of my favorites. I’m kind of just nervous because I know that everybody loves Flynn and I’m trying to do my best at satisfying what people are expecting. But in another way, I can only be true to myself and try to embody the spirit of the cartoon.”
The live-action adaptation is written by Jennifer Kaytin Robinson, whose credits include Do Revenge and Thor: Love and Thunder. Kristin Burr, producer of Cruella and Freakier Friday, is producing alongside executive producer Lucy Kitada. The project has been in active development since late 2024, though Disney had explored the remake for years prior.
In the viral moment that launched this latest wave of Disney live-action enthusiasm, fans on X erupted following the D23 first look. One user posted, “Omg they look perfect!” While another simply declared, “MOTHER.” The reactions underscored how deeply the 2010 animated original has embedded itself in Disney’s modern canon, with Hahn’s hooded cloak and commanding presence immediately drawing comparisons to Donna Murphy’s scene-stealing vocal performance.
The original Tangled, directed by Nathan Greno and Byron Howard, earned over $592 million worldwide and received an Oscar nomination for Best Original Song with “I See the Light.” Alan Menken and Glenn Slater’s score, including the villain showcase “Mother Knows Best,” is expected to feature prominently in the remake, though Disney has not formally confirmed musical details.
Disney’s live-action Tangled is scheduled for theatrical release on March 31, 2028.