Close your eyes. Wait, don’t, then you can’t read this article. Open your mind and imagine who you’d picture to play Rapunzel in a live-action version of Tangled. Is that person…Gigi Hadid?
For context, a live-action version of Tangled had been in the works with Michael Gracey (of The Greatest Showman and Better Man) slated to direct. The project was in active development until earlier this year, when Disney put it on pause after the lackluster box office numbers for the live-action Snow White.
As it turns out, the 30-year-old model put her hat in the running for the lead part. In a new interview with Vogue, Gigi confirmed that she auditioned for the role and took singing lessons during fashion month in preparation.
Alas, she did not get the role. “I was really proud of my scene,” she told the publication. “The singing…I knew they were going to go with a real singer, but I’ll show you my audition scene later.”
Incidentally, Gigi did highlight her love of musical theater in her April 2025 cover of Vogue. “I grew up doing musical theater,” she said at the time. “I love all things musical theater.” Perhaps a PR move for the audition, with hindsight?
You can hear Gigi’s singing in an all-skinny rendition of “You Can’t Stop the Beat” from Hairspray here.
