Kathryn Hahn Lands Coveted Role of Mother Gothel in Disney's Live-Action Tangled
Disney has officially announced that Kathryn Hahn will portray the iconic villain Mother Gothel in the upcoming live-action adaptation of Tangled. The confirmation comes after years of fan speculation and rumours surrounding the highly anticipated film project.
The announcement was made on March 10th, 2026, with Hahn sharing the news via a joint Instagram post with Disney. In the post, the actress showcased her "outfit of the day," which featured a Mother Gothel t-shirt, captioning it simply: "OOTD, Mother Gothel." Fans immediately flooded the comments section with excitement and support for the casting decision.
Beat Out Major Competition for the Role
According to industry reports, Hahn faced stiff competition for the coveted role. Initially, Scarlett Johansson was reportedly being considered for the part of Mother Gothel. However, Johansson ultimately stepped back from the role due to scheduling conflicts with other major projects, including Batman II and The Exorcist reboot.
This opened the door for Kathryn Hahn, who had long been a popular choice among fans in online fancasts. Deadline first reported that Hahn was in talks for the role, and Disney's official confirmation has now put all speculation to rest.
Hahn's Previous Comments Hinted at Interest
Back in 2024, during an interview with Entertainment Tonight regarding her Golden Globe nomination for Agatha All Along, Hahn was asked about the fan-casting rumours linking her to Mother Gothel. Her response was both shocked and delighted.
"I mean I'm really good at karaoke," she joked, before adding, "Singing next to Patti LuPone really humbles you." These comments, made in a lighthearted manner, suggested that Hahn might indeed be interested in taking on a musical role like Mother Gothel, who is famously voiced by Broadway icon Donna Murphy in the original animated film.
Full Cast Taking Shape
The live-action Tangled film is already in production, with other key casting announcements having been made earlier this year. On January 7th, Disney revealed that Australian rising star Teagan Croft would be playing Rapunzel, while Disney Channel actor Milo Manheim has been cast as Flynn Rider.
This latest announcement regarding Kathryn Hahn completes the trio of main characters, bringing the beloved fairy tale one step closer to its live-action debut. Fans of the original film and Hahn's previous work are eagerly anticipating how she will bring the manipulative and charismatic Mother Gothel to life on the big screen.
The casting of Hahn continues Disney's trend of selecting talented and versatile actors for their live-action remakes, ensuring that these new adaptations honour the legacy of the animated classics while offering fresh interpretations for modern audiences.
