Disney‘s search for actors to lead the live-action remake of the 2010 animated movie Tangled is heating up with several young performers up for what could be their biggest role to date. The Hollywood Reporter reveals that several female actresses have done their screen tests for the in-demand role, as have their male counterparts. If successful, the hopefuls could help bring to life the roles voiced by Mandy Moore and Zachary Levi in the 2010 hit. The search has encompassed Disney and DC stars, as well as actors from Netflix and Apple TV shows.

For the role of Rapunzel, the long-haired girl at the center of the narrative, Freya Skye, Sarah Catherine Hook, Olivia-Mai Barrett, and Teagan Croft have tested. If cast, Skye would be returning to Disney after making her feature debut in Zombies 4: Dawn of the Vampires. Catherine Hook has been a constant fixture on television for the last few years, starring in First Kill, Cruel Intentions, and, most recently, The White Lotus. Barrett is best known for her role in the Apple TV sci-fi series Invasion. Australian actress Croft would return to Hollywood a few years after her breakout role on DC Titans, where she starred as Raven. The Summer I Turned Pretty star Lola Tung was in consideration but couldn’t make it due to scheduling issues.

Whoever is cast as Rapunzel would co-star with Milo Manheim, Charlie Gillespie, or Gilli Jones as Flynn Ryder. Like Skye, Manheim would be returning to Disney, where he has led the musical franchise Zombies for the past seven years. He also stars in Paramount+‘s teen drama, School Spirits. Gillespie is best known for starring in the Netflix musical-drama Julie and the Phantoms and the comedy film Splitsville. Jones is a Scottish musical theatre actor whose star is on the rise.

‘Tangled’ Has Seen Some Hurdles in the Development Process

The live-action film was paused at some point when Disney decided to pause live-action remakes following the negative publicity surrounding its Snow White remake. The project restarted a few months ago, with Scarlett Johansson attached to star as Mother Gothel, the film’s primary villain. However, she recently dropped out in favor of The Exorcist reboot and The Batman Part II. Tangled is expected to begin production in the UK in June, but that depends on who gets cast. Michael Gracey will direct.

via Collider