Disney’s planned Tangled live-action remake may have found the perfect actress to play Mother Gothel! Here’s what we know!
Like it or not, Disney’s live-action remakes aren’t going away. The company seems obsessed with making a live-action version of just about every major animated movie in its catalog. It’s not just the classics like Snow White, The Little Mermaid, or Beauty and the Beast either.
Moana is shooting a live-action version with Dwayne Johnson reprising his role as Maui. This summer sees the live-action Lilo & Stitch movie. Disney is also planning a version of Tangled, which makes sense as the 2010 film was one of the bigger hits of that decade.
The take on the Rapunzel myth had a good storyline and wonderful songs. It also boasted one of the best Disney animated villains ever, Mother Gothel. The twisted sorceress presented herself as a mother to Rapunzel and secretly used her golden hair to keep herself young.
Voiced by Tony Award winner Donna Murphy, Gothel was a chilling figure, with the fantastic song “Mother Knows Best” becoming a favorite. Obviously, a Tangled movie would have her front and center.
While some may want Murphy to reprise her role, the 65-year-old actress may be considered too old for the part. It’s also commonplace for Disney to want a bigger name for their live-action roles.
As it happens, Disney may have the perfect candidate. Insider Daniel Richtman (who has a good track record-breaking news) shared that Disney is hoping to cast Kathryn Hahn as Gothel in the live-action Tangled. And if they do, it’d be the most perfect casting imaginable.
Why Kathryn Hahn should be Gothel
For years, Kathryn Hahn was one of those actresses who popped up in scores of TV shows and movies but never really had a big name. She broke out on the NBC crime drama Crossing Jordan and other TV shows like Parks & Recreation, Transparent, and Mrs. Fletcher. She also added movie roles in How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days, Anchorman, and many more.
It was in 2022 that Hahn finally got her star-making turn as quirky neighbor Agnes in WandaVision. In what’s one of the best MCU plot twists, Agnes was revealed as centuries-old witch Agatha Harkness using Wanda for her own goals (and getting a catchy song out of it).
The character was so popular (with Hahn earning an Emmy nomination for the part) that she got her own spinoff, Agatha All Along. The series was a huge hit in both viewership and critical acclaim, with Hahn landing a Golden Globe nomination for the series.
Obviously, her role as Agatha proves Hahn can easily play a wicked witch. She’d capture the dark humor of Gothel, looking motherly but really this twisted monster. Not to mention Hahn has experience with the special effects work needed for the party.
Hahn can also add some pathos to the character that was missing in the animated version, even a bit of sympathy at times. That can be extinguished by her actions, with Hahn easily going from funny to terrifying in an eye blink. Like Agatha, Gothel is a vain and secretive temptress and Hahn can do that in her sleep.
Not to mention, Hahn has a wonderful singing voice so she can nail “Mother Knows Best” with ease. This can get Marvel fans to check out the movie and Hahn is overdue for a big-screen leading role.
Right now, this is just speculation. Hahn’s busy schedule may mean it’s harder to land the role and Disney may want a more A-list talent. But Hahn is just such a perfect choice for Gothel in every way that Disney would be foolish to ignore her cast in this magical story.
Tangled streaming on Disney+.