Why Milo Manheim is the Perfect Live-Action Flynn Rider for Disney's Tangled
After years of speculation and anticipation, the development of the live-action Tangled movie is finally moving ahead, and the lead actors have been found. While the likes of Florence Pugh and even Sabrina Carpenter were touted as potential picks for Rapunzel, it’s Australian actress Teagan Croft who landed the role. Opposite her, we’ll see Milo Manheim take on the role of Flynn Rider.
Actors like House of the Dragon star Fabien Frankel and House of Guinness actor Louis Partridge were subject to fan-casting for the part, but it’s Manheim who won out in the end.
With the original animated movie holding a dear place in the hearts of Disney fans, the studio must get this live-action remake right. And if you ask me, it’s already made a great start by picking Manheim to play Flynn.
The Z-O-M-B-I-E-S Franchise Proved Milo Manheim Can Do Musical Romance
Manheim bagging the role is a big deal in my household. Not only was my daughter obsessed with Tangled when she was younger, but my son, who loves anything spooky and is also a sucker for a catchy musical number, is also the number one Z-O-M-B-I-E-S fan in the world.
Leading the franchise is Manheim, who plays Zed, a loveable zombie with infectious energy and an abundance of warmth and charm. He’s also got a great singing voice, which helps, of course, in a musical.
The chemistry between Zed and Addison, the cheerleader he’s not supposed to fall in love with but does anyway, is brilliant, too. I’ll be the first to admit that this kind of schmaltzy, straight-to-streaming Disney movie would never usually be my cup of tea, but their blossoming relationship brings a smile to my face.
In short, Milo Manheim definitely has the cheeky and charming personality to portray Flynn Rider; he’s going to belt out those lovely tunes in Tangled with ease, and we know he’s going to make that love story between Flynn and Rapunzel convincing.
Manheim Showed a Darker, More Serious Side in Thanksgiving
There are also moments in Tangled when Flynn goes a bit rogue. His betrayal of Rapunzel is a key plot point in the film, and while he does prove himself to be a good guy in the end, Manheim will need to embody that more problematic side of his character.
Luckily, aside from Z-O-M-B-I-E-S, Manheim has also done some slightly more serious work on the 2023 horror movie Thanksgiving. In the Eli Roth flick, Manheim plays Ryan, a shady young man who is even suspected of being the killer at one point.
The fact that he plays such a morally questionable character in an 18-rated slasher says a lot about Manheim’s range. While he won’t be facing any accusations of murder as Flynn Rider, it’s handy that this young actor has already been on the wrong end of a deadly weapon or two. I can’t wait to see Disney recreate the popular meme of Flynn facing a room full of swords with a smug smile on his face.
The One Issue With Manheim’s Casting In Tangled
So, Milo Manheim seems pretty perfect for the part, then. However, I do have one gripe. It’s only a minor one, and it can be easily remedied, but it’s a problem nonetheless.
Manheim lacks the physical build we associate with Flynn Rider. He’s supposed to be a fairly muscly, traditional Disney hero, and Manheim doesn’t really have that stature. But I’m sure, given the enormity of the part, he’ll put in the hours at the gym to get himself on par with his animated counterpart.
