Kathryn Hahn In Negotiations For Live Action Tangled 

Kathryn Hahn is set to play Mother Gothel in Disney’s live-action Tangled.

Kathryn Hahn’s Role

Can you capture lightning in a bottle twice? For Disney, the answer seems to lie in the hands of Kathryn Hahn.

As negotiations heat up for the live-action adaptation of the 2010 hit Tangled, Hahn is reportedly the frontrunner to step into the velvet robes of Mother Gothel.

It is a casting choice that feels less like a corporate decision and more like a cultural inevitability.

The Tower’s New Tenant

According to Deadline, the 52-year-old actress—currently riding the high of her MCU success—is in talks to play the manipulative, youth-obsessed antagonist.

Gothel is a role that requires a surgical balance of maternal warmth and chilling narcissism.

• The Johansson Exit: Interestingly, the role was originally attached to Scarlett Johansson in late 2025. However, scheduling conflicts with The Batman: Part II and Mike Flanagan’s Exorcist reboot forced her to vacate the tower.
• The Fan Factor: Following Johansson’s exit, the internet did what it does best: it campaigned. Disney fans lobbied aggressively for Hahn, citing her masterful turn as Agatha Harkness as proof of her “villainous” range.
• The Cast: Hahn joins Teagan Croft (Rapunzel) and Milo Manheim (Flynn Rider) in what is shaping up to be a musically-driven spectacle.

The “Agatha” Blueprint

Hahn’s journey to Disney villainy wasn’t accidental. Her portrayal of Agatha Harkness in WandaVision and the subsequent Agatha All Along proved she could handle “big” characters with ease.

She admits that her entrance into the Marvel world was driven by her children, Leonard and Mae, who are massive fans of the franchise.

Despite her decades of work in projects like Parks and Recreation, Hahn has found that playing a Disney-owned villain has changed her life.

She is recognized “way more” now than ever before, a transition she describes as a “major shift” that began during the pandemic.

Why Hahn is the “Correct” Gothel

Most Disney villains rely on magic or monsters. Mother Gothel relies on emotional manipulation.

She is the master of the “gaslight,” keeping Rapunzel captive not just with stone walls, but with a relentless assault on her self-esteem.

Hahn is uniquely equipped for this. Her ability to pivot from a hilarious, over-the-top musical number to a whisper of genuine threat is exactly what a live-action Tangled needs.

Under the direction of Michael Gracey (The Greatest Showman), the film is promised to feature “big musical elements.”

This isn’t just a remake; it’s a full-scale Broadway-style production on film.

Advice for the Remake

Disney is currently navigating a period of “remake fatigue.” To make Tangled a success, they must avoid the pitfalls of their predecessors:

1. Embrace the Dark Comedy. Hahn’s strength is her wit. Mother Gothel shouldn’t just be scary; she should be scathingly funny in a way that makes her eventual downfall more satisfying.
2. Modernize the “Flynn” Dynamic. Milo Manheim has the Disney “clean” look, but the script by Jennifer Kaytin Robinson needs to ensure Flynn Rider retains his rough edges to balance the musical theater energy.
3. Listen to the Fans, but Lead the Story. While fan-casting Hahn was a win, the production must ensure the film has its own identity rather than just being a 1:1 recreation of the animated original.

A Family Affair

For Hahn, this role is another brick in the legacy she is building for her children.

While her son Leonard may “pretend to be too cool” for the Marvel and Disney hype, Hahn remains “very proud” to be a part of these massive franchises.

If the negotiations close as expected, Mother Gothel will likely become the definitive role that cements her as the modern queen of the Disney villainesses.

Key Takeaways:

• Kathryn Hahn is in talks to play Mother Gothel in live-action Tangled.
• Scarlett Johansson exited the project due to scheduling conflicts with The Batman: Part II.
• Teagan Croft and Milo Manheim are set to star as Rapunzel and Flynn Rider.
• Michael Gracey will direct, focusing on large-scale musical elements.