Rapunzel’s Tower Is Actually Being Built for Disney’s Live-Action ‘Tangled’ and Fans Can’t Look Away
Disney’s long and winding road toward a live-action version of ‘Tangled’ has been anything but smooth. The project has weathered years of uncertainty, casting shuffles, and at least one very public halt, leaving fans wondering whether the beloved 2010 animated musical would ever get its turn in the live-action spotlight.
That uncertainty stretched back even further than most remember. A live-action Tangled remake was first reported in development back in 2020, a full decade after the original film hit theaters, before it was formally announced in December 2024 with ‘The Greatest Showman’ director Michael Gracey attached. The project was then placed on indefinite hold in April 2025 following the disappointing box office performance of the live-action ‘Snow White’.
Now, a screenshot circulating online from account Antoine_F2 is confirming what fans have been hoping for, with the post breaking the news that construction has officially begun on Rapunzel’s iconic tower as production kicks off. The images accompanying the post show the structure taking shape from above, and they line up with what multiple outlets have since verified. Filming is taking place at Ciudad de la Luz studios in Alicante, Spain, with production expected to run for roughly eight months starting in late June.
The tower itself is a clever bit of movie magic rather than a genuine stone structure. The iconic set piece is made up of wooden flats built to resemble brick tower walls, keeping things far lighter and more manageable than construction with real masonry. Additional footage shared separately on X shows the tower being lifted into place with large cranes, suggesting Disney is leaning into a practical, physical set rather than relying heavily on computer-generated environments.
The cast assembled for this new take on the fairy tale has been steadily coming together for months. Teagan Croft stars as Rapunzel opposite Milo Manheim as Flynn Rider, while Kathryn Hahn plays the villainous Mother Gothel. ‘Andor’ actor Diego Luna has also joined the film in a mystery role created specifically for this version, adding an intriguing new wrinkle to the familiar story. Gracey is directing from a screenplay written by Jennifer Kaytin Robinson.
There’s real legacy riding on this production finding its footing. The original animated ‘Tangled’ grossed more than 592 million dollars worldwide, earned an Academy Award nomination for Best Original Song for I See the Light, and spun off a Disney Channel series that ran three seasons. It also remains one of Disney+’s most-watched animated titles. That kind of staying power is exactly why the sight of a half built tower feels like such a big deal to longtime fans who have waited years for this adaptation to actually happen.
Disney has stayed quiet on when audiences will actually get to see the finished film. No official release date has been announced, meaning any specific year floated online right now is still speculation at best. What is clear is that after so many stops and starts, the production finally has real momentum, cameras rolling and a literal tower rising from the ground in Spain.
With Rapunzel’s tower now taking physical shape and a cast this stacked ready to bring Corona’s most famous resident to life, do you think this live-action reimagining can capture the same magic that made the original an animated classic?
