Disney's Learning All the Wrong Lessons From Snow White's Failure

Why canceling a live-action version of 'Tangled' doesn't solve anything

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Last week it was reported that Disney had abruptly put hit the pause button on development for a live-action remake of their 2010 feature Tangled. Set to be directed by Greatest Showman helmer Michael Gracey fan casting for the movie has gone far and wide, with many hoping singing sensation Sabrina Carpenter would be the helm and several touting Jennifer Lopez as Mother Gothel. Let’s just say, I’d camp out for tickets to that movie! This is clearly a panic move by Disney as they prep to take a $115 million dollar bath on Snow White. But is it necessarily the best option for them?

Like any good studio these days, no one really seems to see the forest for the trees when it comes to box office failures. As my friend and pundit Scott Mendelson wrote back when Snow White came out, “There is no circumstance in which a Snow White remake released in 2025 gets anywhere near $1 billion in global grosses.” The only one who believed Snow White was going to break through the wall like the Kool-Aid man out the gate was Disney.