Tangled Unravels: Disney’s Live-Action Movie Hit With a Major Setback

Scarlett Johansson just made a big scheduling move: she is jumping into The Batman Part II, and that apparently cost her two other movies. One of them is Disney's live-action Tangled. The other is an indie called Featherwood. Here is how all the pieces fit together.

Johansson heads to Gotham

Matt Reeves has cast Johansson in a still-secret role in The Batman Part II. Robert Pattinson is back as Bruce Wayne, but Johansson's character is under wraps for now. There is chatter that she could be playing a dangerous love interest for Bruce, but nothing is confirmed.

The sequel is co-written by Reeves and Mattson Tomlin, backed by DC Studios and Warner Bros. Pictures, and dated for October 1, 2027 in the U.S. The plan, per multiple reports, is to shoot in 2026, which is where the schedule crunch starts.

Another 2026 shoot: Mike Flanagan's new The Exorcist

On top of Batman, Johansson is also attached to star in Mike Flanagan's new The Exorcist movie, which is likewise gearing up to film in 2026. Two major commitments the same year means something had to give.

The domino effect: Tangled loses its Mother Gothel

Per Jeff Sneider's newsletter The InSneider, Johansson is out as Mother Gothel in Disney's live-action Tangled. She had been circling the role since October 2025. The remake itself went on pause earlier this year, then quietly restarted development. Michael Gracey, of The Greatest Showman and Better Man, is directing.

And she exits the indie Featherwood

Johansson has also stepped away from Featherwood, a true-crime indie announced in 2024. She was set to play a heroin addict who flips to become an FBI informant. Andrea Arnold was attached to direct, but she left the project this past September. That exit mattered.

"The chance to work with Arnold was a big reason why Johansson signed on to that project."

One note for anyone seeing conflicting titles out there: if you spot 'Leatherwood,' that is a typo. The film Johansson boarded in 2024 is called Featherwood.

• The Batman Part II: Johansson in a mystery role; shoots in 2026; U.S. release October 1, 2027; co-written by Matt Reeves and Mattson Tomlin; DC Studios and Warner Bros. Pictures.
• Mike Flanagan's The Exorcist: Johansson attached; also aiming to film in 2026.
• Disney's live-action Tangled: Johansson exits the Mother Gothel role; development resumed after a pause; Michael Gracey directing; no release date yet.
• Featherwood: Johansson exits after director Andrea Arnold departed in September; true-crime indie first announced in 2024; no release date yet.

So, yes, a former Marvel headliner is now prioritizing a DC sequel and a new Exorcist over a Disney princess remake. That is a pretty telling snapshot of where Hollywood heat is right now. We will see who ends up snatching the Tangled villain slot, and what Featherwood looks like post-Arnold. For now, Gotham wins the calendar.