Casting Rapunzel For Disney’s Live-Action Movie

Disney has a live-action Rapunzel movie in development, but which actress would be the best pick to play Rapunzel herself? Following in the vein of projects like Cinderella, Beauty and the Beast, and The Lion King, it appears that Disney will now be bringing princess Rapunzel to the big screen in live-action. However, an adaption of Tangled would make it the first 3D animated Disney film to receive a live-action remake.

While it’s very possible that the live-action Rapunzel movie could take a different route from the animated film (like the upcoming Mulan remake has done), directly adapting 2010’s Tangled would open the door for more remakes of recent and well-loved Disney films like Frozen and Moana., though it’s worth noting that Disney-owned ABC already had a version of Frozen of live-action in their TV show Once Upon a Time.

Related:

The role of Rapunzel was initially voice acted by Mandy Moore, with Zachary Levi playing her love interest, Flynn Rider. Given that few other live-action remakes have kept actors from the originals, though, it’s likely that this new Rapunzel film will feature an entirely new cast. With that being said, we’ve rounded up a shortlist of actresses who could take on the iconic role of Princess Rapunzel in a live-action version of Tangled.

Amanda Seyfried

Kicking off this list is the internet’s favorite choice, Amanda Seyfried. Fans have been lobbying for Seyfried to take on the role for years, and things heated up when a photo of her and Cher sparked comparisons to Rapunzel and Mother Gothel. In addition to the fact that Seyfried’s name has been in the conversation before the movie was even announced, she also has an impressive resume that would make her perfect for the role.

Seyfried has extensive singing experience and is no stranger to movie-musicals – she’s starred in Les Miserables, Mamma Mia!, and Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again, all of which required her to sing. She also fits the bill to a ‘T’ when it comes to looks – with her blonde hair and green eyes, she’s a dead ringer for Rapunzel. With the internet already behind her, a resume full of musical experience, and the right physicality, Seyfried would be an obvious choice to bring Rapunzel to life.

Sabrina Carpenter

Taking a different, more screen-accurate direction, another actress who could fit the bill is Sabrina Carpenter. Although she’s the youngest of the bunch (Carpenter is only 20) that actually makes her closest to Rapunzel’s age in the film – 18. Carpenter also has experience working with Disney already; she got her big break starring as Maya on the Disney Channel TV show Girl Meets World. She, like Seyfried, has experience singing. Carpenter has released several studio albums and has the most musical experience of anyone on this list, despite her young age.

Another point in her favor is that Carpenter herself is a fan of Tangled. In an interview with Disney’s own Oh My Disney blog, she explained what she loves most about the character. While she may be young in comparison to the other live-action princesses (for reference, Emma Watson was 26 when she played Belle, and Naomi Scott was 25 when she played Jasmine), Sabrina Carpenter would still be a strong pick for Rapunzel thanks to her vocal chops and experience working with Disney.

Emily Browning

On the opposite end of the spectrum is the oldest actress on this list, Emily Browning. At 31 she may be a little older than previous princesses, but her large eyes, fair skin, and doll-like features make her a dead ringer for Rapunzel. Browning is by far the most unconventional choice – she’s an Australian actress who’s worked mostly in darker, more gritty films and shows, but that doesn’t mean she should be counted out.

Casting Browning wouldn’t be the first time an actress covered up an accent to play a princess (the British Emma Watson played the “french” Belle in Beauty and the Beast), and Browning’s work on American Gods proves that her American accent is more than strong enough to pass off as Rapunzel. Browning also has singing experience – she was required to sing for the films Sucker Punch and God Help the Girl.

While she may not be the first actress to come to mind when thinking about who would make a great Rapunzel, Emily Browning has all the right qualities to star in a live-action Tangled remake, and her onscreen presence would certainly bring a unique element to the table.

AnnaSophia Robb

Another frequently fan-cast pick, a different direction for Rapunzel’s casting could be to go with AnnaSophia Robb. Robb is known to most audiences for her work in Bridge to Terebithia, but since then she’s wracked up quite a few impressive acting credits that make her a solid choice to play Rapunzel. She proved she’s more than capable of being a leading lady with her emotional performance in Soul Surfer.

Robb also has singing experience – her single “Keep Your Mind Wide Open” charted on the Billboard Hot 100 – so there’s no question about whether or not she has the pipes for the role. Though her most recent role was in the Hulu thriller The Act, casting Robb as Rapunzel would give her a chance to return to her fantasy roots.

Florence Pugh

Last but certainly not least is the most recent internet fan-favorite for Rapunzel, Florence Pugh. With breakout roles in films like Midsommar, Little Women, and the upcoming Black Widow, Pugh has gathered a large fan base and enough star power to make her a strong contender for the role. Similarly to Seyfried, fans have rallied behind her, with several people making threads online about why Pugh would be perfect for the role.

Like Emily Browning, taking on the role of Rapunzel would be a step out of Pugh’s usual projects, which tend to be more serious or dramatic. However, her recent turn as Amy March in the Oscar-nominated Little Women proves she has both the comedy and the charm to pull of a young, naive princess like Rapunzel. While she may not be as strong of the singer as the other picks, she could certainly take lessons or get a vocal coach like Emma Watson did in preparation for Beauty and the Beast.

While it’s unclear as to whether or not this upcoming live-action Rapunzel film will even be a Tangled remake, all five of these actresses would be great choices to play the bubbly blonde princess Rapunzel in her new movie.

About The Author