With live-action remakes of animated properties flooding the market, fans have always been quick to drop in with their fan castings. Many of the original artists for these films themselves have even come up with their own ideas. One of these is Tangled’s Zachary Levi with the fan casting of his character, Flynn Rider.
While his choice is interesting, many fans are still wary of the idea of a live-action remake of Tangled, given Disney’s track record with the rest of their library. Here is a breakdown of Levi, Tangled, and the state of Disney as a whole at the time of writing.
Who Does He Want as Flynn Rider?
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To No one’s surprise, the actor Levi considers the best choice to play Flynny Rider in a live-action version of Tangled is current superstar Timothy Chalamet. According to Entertainment Weekly, Levi described himself as “too old” to play the Disney character in real life. Levi will star in the upcoming film Harold and the Purple Crayon and recently starred as the titular character in Shazam!
As for Chalamet himself, he has proven himself to be a memorable actor. Of many, his most prominent film role was the Dune duology by Denis Villeneuve, where he played the heroic Paul Atreides/Muad’Dib. As for children’s fantasy films, he starred as the third live-action incarnation of the titular character in Wonka last year. While a good choice for Flynn, it can hardly be called a humble one.
Zachary Levi’s Original Tangled Film
Disney’s reputation has been fairly controversial as an animation studio, with its disappointing Wish, especially as a massive corporation. However, one of their more beloved recent films was 2010’s Tangled. The film retells the classic story of Rapunzel, in which Zachary Levi starred alongside Mandy Moore as Rapunzel and Donna Murphy as Mother Gothel. Flynn Rider (real name Eugene Fitzherbert) is regarded as one of the better, more 3-dimensional Disney princes over the years.
Nearly a decade later, the franchise would see the light of day again. Rapunzel’s Tangled Adventure, on the Disney Channel, brought back Moore and Levi for its cast. The series was praised for maintaining the magic of the original while also telling a serialized story over several seasons. In general, many fans did not see the need for a live-action remake of the classic.
The State of Disney Live-Action Remakes
While there are no current plans for a live-action Tangled remake, most animation fans would consider that fact to be a good thing. There has not been a single remake that critics and audiences considered better than “mediocre.” Most examples, such as 2019’s The Lion King, provided little more than shot-for-shot remakes of the original while adding no ideas. Others, such as the Maleficent duology, bastardized the story and themes of the original films. Changes in the films have rarely ever added to the original story.
The performances and casting in these films were usually subject to just as much criticism as their writing and story choices. While Chalamet may have proven himself capable of the role of Flynn Rider, it is unlikely he could salvage such an idea for a film. On the flip side, these remakes are usually box-office powerhouses, which is why Disney cares little for their criticism.
As it turns out, the idea of a live-action Tangled film is not out of the question. Last year, Disney announced their plans to make a live-action Moana remake, a film released less than a decade ago. Immediately, fans protested this, as they already have a sequel to the film coming out this November. While Levi’s suggestion may be an intriguing one, many believe it would give Disney the wrong idea.
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