There are few Disney castles as recognisable as Corona with the floating lanterns that take your breath away. Then we have the towering white walls and the golden rooftops that provide a magical effect. It’s one of those places that became as much a character as Rapunzel herself. So whenever Disney starts rebuilding it in live action, people are going to pay attention.
And now we have our best look yet. A fresh batch of set photos from Disney’s upcoming live-action Tangled has given fans a detailed look inside Corona Castle as filming enters its final stretch in Spain. The images showcase the castle’s courtyard, colourful market square and several exterior details that appear to recreate the animated kingdom almost brick for brick.
If you’re one of those that has been following the production, you’ll know these photos have come just days after the first images of Teagan Croft as Rapunzel and Milo Manheim as Flynn Rider surfaced online. The photos excited many fans, who praised Disney for staying remarkably faithful to the animated designs.
The castle, however, is another story which has sparked a slightly different conversation. Fans have already questioned Disney’s decision to swap Corona’s iconic golden banners for blue ones. To some, it may seem like a small, harmless change, but when you’re adapting one of Disney’s most beloved modern animated films, even a subtle colour change is enough to set social media alight.
Put the banners aside and you have beautiful craftsmanship on display. The castle looks enormous, showcasing intricate stonework, towering arches and market streets that recreate the charm of the 2010 film. What an absolute delight. And it also looks as though Disney is investing heavily in bringing the Kingdom of Corona to life. This is fantastic rather than relying entirely on computer-generated environments. Now this is huge.
The truth of the matter though is that beautiful sets have never guaranteed a great movie. And no one knows that better than Disney. Over the past decade, the studio’s live-action remakes have become some of Hollywood’s biggest box office successes. But they’ve also become some of its most divisive releases. For every The Jungle Book or Lilo & Stitch, there’s another remake that leaves audiences asking the same question: Why was there a need for this?
Eventually, Tangled will have to answer that question. Unlike classics such as Snow White or Cinderella, Tangled isn’t a film that audiences have forgotten. It remains one of Disney Animation’s most popular modern films. Also many fans still consider it one of the studio’s finest. That means Disney is competing with both audience expectations as well as its own original.Â
For now, though, the early signs are promising with the set design being lovingly crafted. The cast already resembles their animated counterparts. But more than that, Corona is beginning to feel like a real place rather than just another CGI backdrop.
Whether that’s enough to justify another live-action remake is a conversation we’ll probably still be having long after Rapunzel lets down her hair.
