Paniz Rahnama Takes Mother Gothel Role From Scarlett Johansson
Disney's live-action Tangled remake sees major casting shake-up as Bollywood actress Paniz Rahnama reportedly lands the villain role originally intended for Scarlett Johansson, marking her Hollywood debut.
Disney's upcoming live-action adaptation of Tangled appears to have found its Mother Gothel, but not the actress fans expected. Reports suggest Paniz Rahnama has secured the antagonist role that was previously linked to Scarlett Johansson.
The casting represents a significant shift for the project. Rahnama, known primarily for her work in Bollywood productions, would make this her first major Hollywood role if confirmed. She previously appeared in Netflix series including Bard of Blood, Drive, and Smoke.
New Faces Join Disney's Fairy Tale Remake
While Disney hasn't officially announced the complete cast, industry sources point to several actors in consideration for key roles. Rahnama reportedly entered test screening phases for Mother Gothel after Johansson stepped away due to scheduling conflicts with other projects, including her rumored role as Poison Ivy in The Batman Part II.
The title character of Rapunzel may go to Sarah Catherine Hook, recognized for her performance in White Lotus. Flynn Rider could be portrayed by Milo Manheim, who gained popularity through Disney's Zombies franchise.
The original animated film, directed by Nathan Greno and Byron Howard, earned $591 million worldwide and received an 89% critics score on Rotten Tomatoes. Mandy Moore, Zachary Levi, and Donna Murphy voiced the main characters in the 2010 release.
Johansson Eyes Director's Chair
Though absent from Tangled's cast, Johansson expressed interest in directing future Disney projects. During a recent interview, she discussed her experience as executive producer on Black Widow and her desire to helm action films that maintain human connections.
"I think the movies that I like that are big action movies also have the human connectivity piece," she explained. "There's ways of maintaining the integrity of the idea of human connection, family, disappointment, all of the things that were themes in [Eleanor the Great], and doing it in a giant way in a giant universe."
The actress sees potential in directing within Marvel's cinematic universe, suggesting she could bring her storytelling perspective to superhero narratives while preserving emotional depth.