Disney live-action movies are really tricky because the reality is that they never top their animated counterpart, nor do they feel necessary when we're out here begging Hollywood to move away from intellectual property and give us unique content. Still, despite the complaints, these live actions will continue to happen, and if they're going to, the casting matters significantly to help us find some enjoyment even when strange CGI choices make us question everything.
Tangled (2010) is one of the most revered of the animated movies, so this one's especially tough, and people have been fan-casting their favorite actors for what feels like years now. (My personal choice for the longest time was Taylor Zakhar Perez from 2023's Red, White, and Royal Blue.) But Milo Manheim has also been in the running for a while now, and given his body of work in two specific properties, he's actually the perfect choice for live-action Flynn Rider. Luckily, you don't have to wait too long to watch him in Tangled if you want a glimpse into what he's been in.
Milo Manheim's Performance in 'Zombies' Proves He Can Sing And Dance
Before "I See the Light," Beauty and the Beast's "Tale as Old as Time" was one of the most romantic Disney songs to exist upon its 1991 debut. Now, it's got some serious competition. To capture the depth and heart of "I See the Light," a performer needs to have the type of singing voice that can evoke all the emotions alongside their facial expressions. During the span of four movies in Disney+'s Zombies (2018) franchise, Milo Manheim has been playing the leading man as Zed Necrodopolis.
Across four fantasy-based movies with different mythical creatures added into each one, Manheim's performances get better and better as he continues to layer Zed with an overwhelming amount of depth. But even if you don't feel like watching them all, his work in the first one is enough to showcase how he can be charismatic, cheeky, and wholesome. A large part of Flynn Rider's appeal is the smolder—the ridiculous dorkiness amid the wisecracking energy of a bandit, and everything that we see of Milo Manheim as Zed shows us that he can embody fully fleshed out characters.
He's especially great in Zombies 2 (2020) and Zombies 3 (2022) as the lore gets deeper because his vocal abilities continue to evolve, bringing to our screens some really catchy songs that are sung by a good singer who can evoke through his voice and his means of following the choreography. And because Manheim can ensure that a zombie feels like a grounded character, we can trust that he can do the same with Flynn Rider. Sure, he's mortal, but Tangled as a story still features fantasy elements that are harder to sell in live-action than in an animated feature.
'Spirits' Showcases Milo Manheim's Range, Proving He Can Be The Perfect Flynn Rider
The Zombies movies aren't the only great films to showcase Milo Manheim's abilities, but if there were ever doubts, his work in Paramount+'s School Spirits (2023) solidifies that he's the right actor for the role of Flynn Rider. As a series, School Spirits also dabbles in the supernatural, but it's even darker as an account for grief, heartaches, and second chances. The nature of the show involving teenagers who died in high school demands that the actors embodying these roles deliver some of the heaviest emotions that are often overplayed. Instead, there are layers and nuances to the performances, and everything Manheim brings is so exceptional. He'll make you cry in one scene while you laugh out loud in the next.
At the same time, it's not every actor who has chemistry with almost all the other actors around him, and this is especially the case with Manheim. He's delightful in his on-screen relationship with Peyton List's Maddie Nears, but he's also exceptional in all the platonic relationships Wally shares with the other ghosts, allowing their rapport to be one of the show's loveliest parts. Flynn Rider's closest friend might be his horse, but based on everything that we see in both these properties, the "I've Got a Dream" sequence at the Snuggly Duckling pub is going to be an absolute delight, considering choreography, chemistry, and Manheim's ability to command a scene with a warmth that's almost too charming for words.
Milo Manheim can make a character feel so nuanced. With Tangled being more of Rapunzel's story than Flynn Rider's, there's a good chance that we'll get plenty of solid moments in the silence to show us exactly why he's a good partner to the lost princess. The emotional depth the actor is capable of is a bonus with his vocal range, so even if CGI might be questionable, we've hit the jackpot with the casting.
