Disney has ignited a full-blown fan firestorm after unveiling the cast for its upcoming live-action remake of Tangled, with many viewers branding the studio’s decision to bypass Sabrina Carpenter as Rapunzel a as a massive mistake.
On Thursday, Disney confirmed that Australian actress Teagan Croft, 21, will step into the role of the long-haired princess opposite Milo Manheim as Flynn Rider.
The announcement, shared across the studio’s official social platforms, immediately divided fans – with reactions ranging from celebratory cheers to outright rage.
‘This was just an obvious fumble,’ one user wrote bluntly, echoing a sentiment shared widely across X.
Others were even harsher, accusing Disney of losing touch with its audience.
‘Looks like Disney is finally tired of getting woke and going broke,’ another commenter scoffed, while a separate post questioned, ‘Disney, are you alright? These actors… they look like they fit the roles…’
Disney has ignited a fan firestorm after unveiling the cast for its upcoming live-action remake of Tangled as many insisted not casting Sabrina Carpenter was an ‘obvious fumble’
Yet for every disappointed Carpenter supporter, there was an equally vocal group applauding Disney for casting a lesser-known name.
‘An unknown… WE WON,’ one fan declared, while another praised the decision as ‘a breath of fresh air,’ arguing that seeing a major pop star in the role would have been distracting.
‘It’d be so weird watching, like, Sabrina Carpenter play Rapunzel or something,’ one user wrote.
A fourth gushed: ‘Refreshing to FINALLY see a new face.’
Still, Carpenter’s fans made it clear they weren’t ready to let go of their dream casting.
‘Congrats, but we wanted Sabrina,’ one comment read, while another admitted, ‘She’s beautiful, but I still think Disney lost a lot by not casting Sabrina Carpenter to play Rapunzel.’
Some even floated alternative picks, including McKenna Grace and Meg Donnelly, before calling the final choice a ‘missed chance.’
Others expressed hope that Croft wouldn’t ‘get brutally destroyed and cyber bullied’ from Disney’s notoriously loud and critical fan base.
On Thursday, Disney confirmed that Australian actress Teagan Croft, 21, (seen above) will step into the role of the long-haired princess opposite Milo Manheim as Flynn Rider
The announcement, shared across the studio’s official social platforms, immediately divided fans – with reactions ranging from celebratory cheers to outright rage
‘This was just an obvious fumble,’ one user wrote bluntly, echoing a sentiment shared widely across X
‘Disney learned from the Snow White controversy,’ one X user pointed out, nodding to the casting controversy involving Rachel Zegler.
After landing the role of Snow White, Zegler endured racist backlash for not having ‘skin as white as snow.’
The 2025 live-action Snow White remake, which also starred Gal Gadot, was a significant box office bomb.
On Wednesday, news of Manheim getting cast as Flynn Rider also sparked debate.
While some were intrigued, others were unconvinced as they admitted they ‘can’t see it working.’
‘Milo as Flynn? Now that’s a twist I didn’t see coming,’ one skeptic X user wrote.
Manheim, however, received a glowing endorsement from his mother, actress Camryn Manheim, who proudly wrote on Instagram: ‘There is no one on this planet who could play Flynn Rider better than you Milo. Too proud for words.’
Croft, meanwhile, leaned into the moment with humor, resharing Disney’s announcement and joking, ‘OMGGG WHO ARE THEYYYY,’ as fans rushed to Google her name.
Though some questioned, ‘Who is she?’ the actress is far from a newcomer.
She previously starred in HBO Max’s Titans and portrayed solo sailor Jessica Watson in Netflix’s True Spirit, after getting her start as a child actress in Australia.
Some social media users felt that singer Carpenter would have been an ideal casting choice as the Grammy winner previously wore a Tangled-inspired costume for Halloween
News of Manheim getting cast as Flynn Rider also sparked debate; seen in November 2025 in NYC
Some social media users felt that singer Carpenter would have been an ideal casting choice as the Grammy winner previously wore a Tangled-inspired costume for Halloween.
One shared side-by-side photos of Disney’s Rapunzel as well as Carpenter dressed in the past costume and wrote, ‘Disney you have one chance don’t blow it PLEASE.’
‘I guarantee Disney will cast Sabrina Carpenter in Tangled after the success Ariana Grande is having for Universal. Plus, Sabrina grew up on the Disney channel,’ another wrote.
Carpenter, who will star in and produce an untitled Alice in Wonderland-inspired musical for Universal Pictures, rose to fame as a child actress on Disney Channel’s Girl Meets World.
Freya Skye, Sarah Catherine Hook, Olivia-Mai Barrett are also said to have screen-tested for the role.
Disney has finally cast the lead roles in the upcoming live-action adaptation of Tangled – after model Gigi Hadid had auditioned to play the character of Rapunzel
Final auditions to see who would land the roles of Rapunzel and Flynn Rider took place last month in London shortly before the holiday season, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
Tangled (2010) hit theatres more than 15 years ago and raked in $592.5 million at the box office on a budget of US$260 million.
Along with Mandy Moore – who played Rapunzel – and Zachary Levi, other voice stars who appeared in the animated movie included Donna Murphy.
Mandy Moore and Zachary Levi starred as the lead voice roles in the original movie.
The film showcased a number of songs, such as I See The Light, I’ve Got A Dream and also When Will My Life Begin?
Tangled (2010) hit theatres more than 15 years ago and raked in $592.5 million at the box office on a budget of US$260 million
Last year, Gigi Hadid revealed that she had been one of the many stars who auditioned to play Rapunzel in the live-action adaptation.
During an interview with Vogue, the model also shared that she took singing lessons in order to prepare for the audition.
‘I was really proud of my scene,’ Hadid told her close friend Kendall Jenner who had also joined in on the cover story.
‘The singing… I knew they were going to go with a real singer, but I’ll show you my audition scene later.’
JoJo Siwa also submitted an audition tape for the role of Rapunzel.
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