Sometimes the internet gets what it wants. For years, fans have campaigned for Kathryn Hahn to play Mother Gothel in any potential live-action Tangled. Now, after Scarlett Johansson departed the role to star in The Batman Part II, Disney has finally made the call that seemed obvious to everyone except, apparently, Disney.
Hahn is in. Production begins this June.
Why Kathryn Hahn As Mother Gothel Works
The logic here is almost too clean. Hahn has spent the last few years proving she can weaponize charm into something genuinely unsettling. Her work as Agatha Harkness in WandaVision and Agatha All Along demonstrated exactly the kind of theatrical menace that Mother Gothel requires—a villain who believes, completely, that she’s the hero of her own story.
More importantly, Hahn can sing. Her rendition of “Agatha All Along” became a genuine cultural moment, and “The Ballad of the Witches’ Road” proved it wasn’t a fluke. “Mother Knows Best” is one of the more demanding villain songs in the Disney catalog—equal parts manipulation and self-justification—and Hahn has the range to make it land.
The fact that she’s openly expressed interest in the role over the years only adds to the sense that this casting was inevitable.
The Johansson Exit
Scarlett Johansson was previously attached to play Mother Gothel, but dropped out to take a role in Matt Reeves‘ The Batman Part II. That’s a fascinating trade-off. Johansson choosing a DC project over a Disney villain role suggests either that the Tangled production timeline conflicted with Batman, or that she sees more career value in Reeves’ universe than in another Disney remake.
Either way, her exit opened the door for Hahn—and it’s hard to argue Disney didn’t upgrade.
The Production Team
Michael Gracey is directing, fresh off The Greatest Showman and Better Man. His track record suggests a director comfortable with spectacle and musical numbers, which Tangled will need in abundance. Jennifer Kaytin Robinson (Do Revenge, Thor: Love and Thunder) wrote the screenplay, and Kristin Burr (Cruella, Freakier Friday) is producing.
Teagan Croft and Milo Manheim lead as Rapunzel and Flynn Rider. Croft is best known for playing Raven in DC’s Titans, while Manheim has musical theater roots—useful for a film that will presumably lean into the songs.
Disney’s Remake Anxiety
The source material mentions that Disney “appears eager to make fans happy” with Tangled, and the context is obvious. The Snow White remake became a lightning rod for controversy—first over Rachel Zegler’s casting, then over story changes that alienated portions of the fanbase. The Little Mermaid faced similar casting backlash before ultimately succeeding both critically and commercially.
The lesson Disney seems to have learned: give the fans what they want, or at least what they’ve been loudly requesting on social media. Hahn was the fan-favorite choice for Mother Gothel long before Johansson was announced. This casting feels like a course correction.
Whether that signals a “very faithful adaptation” remains to be seen. But the pieces are in place for Disney to avoid the controversies that plagued its recent remakes.
My Take
This is the right call. Hahn brings theatrical presence, vocal ability, and a proven track record with Disney properties. She understands how to play a villain who thinks she’s protecting the people she’s actually harming—which is the entire psychological engine of Mother Gothel.
My bet: Hahn’s version of “Mother Knows Best” becomes the most-discussed scene in the film, regardless of how the rest of it turns out.
FAQ: Kathryn Hahn Tangled Casting
Why does Kathryn Hahn make more sense for Mother Gothel than Scarlett Johansson did?
Hahn’s recent work as Agatha Harkness demonstrated a specific kind of theatrical villainy—charming, self-deluded, musically capable—that maps directly onto Mother Gothel’s character. Johansson is a formidable actor, but her strengths lean toward action and drama rather than the heightened, almost campy menace the role requires.
How might Michael Gracey’s direction affect the film’s approach to the source material?
Gracey’s Greatest Showman prioritized spectacle and emotional uplift over narrative complexity, which suggests Tangled will lean into crowd-pleasing musical sequences rather than dramatic risk-taking. That’s probably the right call for a fairy tale remake, but it also means the film’s success will depend heavily on the songs landing—and on Hahn delivering a villain memorable enough to anchor the story.
