Walt Disney Pictures has cast American actor Milo Manheim as Flynn Rider in its upcoming live-action adaptation of Tangled, opposite Australian star Teagan Croft as Rapunzel. The film continues Disney’s long-running strategy of turning animated hits into live-action spectacles, though the studio has not yet announced a release date.
For fans in India and Jammu & Kashmir who know Manheim from Disney’s Zombies films and the series School Spirits, the role marks a major leap from TV and streaming into a big-budget theatrical musical.
Key Highlights
- Disney has confirmed Milo Manheim as Flynn Rider in the live-action Tangled, with Teagan Croft playing Rapunzel.
- The film will be directed by The Greatest Showman filmmaker Michael Gracey, from a script by Jennifer Kaytin Robinson and produced by Kristin Burr.
- Manheim, 24, is best known for Disney’s Zombies franchise and School Spirits, with Zombies 4: Dawn of the Vampires now streaming on Disney+ and JioHotstar in India.
Disney’s New Flynn Rider
Disney’s announcement confirms weeks of speculation that Milo Manheim was the studio’s top choice to bring Flynn Rider to life in a new, live-action version of the 2010 animated hit Tangled.
Teagan Croft, known to many Indian viewers from her role as Raven in DC’s Titans and the film True Spirit, has been cast as Rapunzel. Manheim steps into the role of the charming thief Flynn Rider, originally voiced by Zachary Levi in the animated version.
The live-action film will be directed by Michael Gracey, whose work on The Greatest Showman showed his flair for stylised movie musicals. The screenplay is written by Jennifer Kaytin Robinson (Do Revenge, Thor: Love and Thunder), while producer Kristin Burr—who has worked on films such as Cruella—rounds out a creative team experienced in musical and family cinema.
Disney has not yet revealed a release date. The project is moving forward after development was paused in 2025 following the underperformance of Snow White, and after months of casting speculation about who would take over the roles made famous by Mandy Moore and Zachary Levi.
Milo Manheim’s Journey From Zombies to Tangled
Born in 2001 in Venice, California, Milo Manheim built his reputation at Disney playing Zed, the zombie footballer at the heart of the Zombies franchise. The first Zombies film released in 2018 on Disney Channel and grew into a four-part series, culminating in Zombies 4: Dawn of the Vampires.
Zombies 4 premiered on Disney Channel on 10 July 2025 and began streaming the next day on Disney+ globally and on JioHotstar in India, giving Manheim a strong teen and family audience in key markets, including across India. For many school and college students in Jammu, Srinagar and other towns who watch Disney content on mobile data and DTH connections, Manheim is already a familiar on-screen presence.
Beyond Zombies, Manheim has taken on darker and more mature roles. He stars as Wally in the Paramount+ supernatural teen drama School Spirits, played Joseph in the musical film Journey to Bethlehem, and appeared in the 2023 horror movie Thanksgiving. He has also competed on Dancing with the Stars, finishing as runner-up in season 27.
On stage, Manheim joined the acclaimed off-Broadway production of Little Shop of Horrors in 2025 as Seymour, acting opposite Elizabeth “Liz” Gillies. His blend of musical ability, youth appeal, and theatre experience makes him a strategic choice for Disney as it aims to turn Tangled into its next major live-action musical brand.
Official Statements & Fan Reaction
Disney formally unveiled the casting through its official channels and social media, including a post from the Walt Disney Studios accounts that read:
“Teagan Croft and Milo Manheim are Rapunzel and Flynn Rider in the live-action reimagining of Disney’s Tangled. Coming only to theaters.”
Entertainment trade outlets such as The Hollywood Reporter, Variety, Entertainment Weekly and the Associated Press quickly confirmed the news, describing it as a key step that moves the long-discussed project back into active development.
While Disney and Manheim have not yet released detailed public comments beyond the casting announcement, theatre and entertainment coverage highlights the actor’s excitement at taking on a beloved role and the expectation that he will lean on his musical background to shape Flynn Rider’s mix of humour and heart.
On social media, early fan discussion has focused on how Manheim will reinterpret Flynn’s roguish charm and emotional warmth, and how Croft and Manheim will pair on screen as a new-generation Rapunzel and Flynn for audiences who grew up with the original animation.
What This Means for Viewers in India
For Indian audiences, Milo Manheim’s casting is notable because many younger viewers already know him from the Zombies franchise on Disney’s OTT platforms. That familiarity gives the live-action Tangled a built-in following among teens and families.
Disney’s live-action remakes usually get wide theatrical releases in India, followed later by streaming. While there is no official release timeline for Tangled yet, the combination of a globally recognised Disney princess story and a lead actor with a proven youth fan base suggests strong interest in multiplexes across metros as well as smaller cities.
As competition intensifies between OTT platforms and cinemas, projects like Tangled often shape what families choose for weekend entertainment, especially when they feature actors whom younger viewers already associate with Disney Channel-style musical storytelling.
FAQs
Milo Manheim is a 24-year-old American actor best known for playing Zed in Disney’s Zombies films and Wally in the Paramount+ series School Spirits.
He has been cast as Flynn Rider, the charming thief who teams up with Rapunzel in Disney’s live-action remake of Tangled.
Australian actress Teagan Croft, known for her role as Raven in DC’s Titans and as the lead in True Spirit, will play Rapunzel.
No. So far, Disney has only confirmed the lead casting and key members of the creative team. A release date has not yet been announced.
The Zombies films, including Zombies 4: Dawn of the Vampires, are available on Disney+ in many regions and currently stream on JioHotstar in India, subject to ongoing licensing.
Transparency & Ethics
Researched with AI assistance; fact-checked and edited by Kitto News editors.
