Beloved actress and comedian Kathryn Hahn is set to star in the upcoming live-action adaptation of Disney’s 2010 animated film “Tangled” — and she’s revealed it’s resulted in her doing some things she “never thought” she’d be doing in a movie.
Hahn, 53, is playing Mother Gothel in the film. Its plot will be exactly the same as the animated original. Per IMDb, that plot was as follows: “The magically long-haired Rapunzel has spent her entire life in a tower, but now that a runaway thief has stumbled upon her, she is about to discover the world for the first time, and who she really is.”
The actress is known for her portrayal of witch Agatha Harkness in the Marvel shows “WandaVision” and “Agatha All Along,” as well as the Netflix movies “Private Life” (2018) and “Fixed” (2025). She will now play “Tangled’s” vain elderly villain who hoards the healing powers of a magic golden flower (and then Rapunzel’s hair) to remain young and beautiful for centuries.
She spoke to People to explain what her role entailed and how she didn’t believe it would be something she’d ever have to do in a film.
Kathryn Hahn Never Thought She’d Sing & Dance in a Movie
GettyIn her chat with People, Kathryn Hahn revealed that she never thought she’d have to sing and dance in a movie, which her role in “Tangled” demands of her.
Hahn, of course, did have to sing as Agatha Harkness in “WandaVision” and “Agatha All Along,” but she had never sang professionally before that, and it didn’t involve any dancing.
In “WandaVision” she sang “Agatha All Along.” Then, in the series named after that song, she led her coven in a rendition of “The Ballad of the Witches’ Road.” The star nailed both performances of the catchy tracks, but quickly downplayed the idea of being an accomplished singer when People suggested it.
“I don’t know if I’d say that, but I definitely, I’m really good at karaoke,” Hahn joked. “I’ve never really sung professionally in anything before Agatha, which was a treat. So this is a big next step for me.”
She also told the publication that her karaoke song of choice is “Pat Benatar. ‘Any Kind Of.'”
Hahn was then asked what it was like to be in a musical movie and she replied, “I’m just telling people that it feels like I’m in Fame right now. I’m rehearsing in Spain.” They’re shooting and I’ve been rehearsing. I’ve been singing and dancing. It’s so fun. Never thought at this stage in the game that that’s what I would do.”
Hahn Should Get Two Major Musical Numbers in ‘Tangled’
GettyIf, as expected, the new live-action “Tangled” does indeed follow the exact story as its animated predecessor, Kathryn Hahn should get two major musical numbers to perform as Mother Gothel.
Mother Gothel is, of course, the villainous witch who’s the primary antagonist in the movie. She kidnaps Rapunzel when she’s a baby after discovering that the child’s magical golden hair can keep her young. The witch raises Rapunzel in an isolated tower under the guise of being her loving mother, all the while controlling and manipulating her into remaining completely hidden from the outside world.
The two songs Mother Gothel sings in the original are “Mother Knows Best,” which is the character’s musical effort to persuade Rapunzel that she’s better off staying in the tower, and “Mother Knows Best (Reprise),” which is a much darker number that follows Rapunzel’s resistance to the idea.
Hahn should absolutely nail the role. She’s a hugely talented actress with experience of playing a villainous witch who sings. We’ll just have to wait and see if she can also pull the dancing off.
The star has had a busy 2026. She starred in the Apple TV satirical cringe comedy series “The Studio,” and appeared and in an episode of the HBO sketch comedy miniseries “Life, Larry and the Pursuit of Unhappiness.” She will also feature in the biographical sports movie “Madden,” which hits Amazon Prime Video in November.
We’ll look forward to watching “Madden,” in which she plays the wife of Nicolas Cage’s John Madden, Virginia, and “Tangled” when it finally hits theaters in two years.
Kathryn Hahn’s filmography info was courtesy of IMDb.
