Disney's Live-Action Tangled to Be Filmed in Alicante — Eight-Month Shoot at Ciudad de la Luz

Alicante Lands Disney's Biggest Production in Years

Disney is bringing its live-action version of Tangled to Alicante. The reimagining of the beloved 2010 animated film — itself based on the Brothers Grimm tale of Rapunzel — will be centred at Ciudad de la Luz studios in Alicante, with an eight-month shoot that will also take in locations across the wider Valencian Community.

Among the confirmed locations is Alicante's iconic Castle of Santa Barbara, which will appear on screen alongside the studio sets at Ciudad de la Luz's Aguamarga facilities. The castle has previously featured in productions including Alejandro Amenábar's El Cautivo (2024) and the Antonio Banderas musical Camino a Belén (2023).

The confirmation came from Juanfran Pérez Llorca, president of the Generalitat Valenciana, who said the studio had chosen Alicante as the "coordination centre" for the entire film. Negotiations between Disney and the regional authorities took around six months, and the production is now moving quickly into the filming phase.

The Creative Team

The film is directed by Michael Gracey, best known for The Greatest Showman (2017). The cast includes:

• Teagan Croft as Rapunzel
• Milo Manheim as Flynn Rider
• Kathryn Hahn as Mother Gothel

The goal is to bring Rapunzel's story to life with real actors and real locations — though many specific production details remain under strict confidentiality agreements.

What It Means for Alicante

The last major international production at Ciudad de la Luz — the third Venom film in 2024 — offers a useful benchmark for the economic impact Tangled is likely to bring. That shoot created around 570 jobs, generated more than 22,000 overnight stays, and worked with over 325 local suppliers, adding roughly €35 million to the local economy over the course of production.

Disney's Tangled is expected to generate comparable or greater benefits, with crews working across Alicante and the Valencian Community for most of the year.

Part of a Wider Revival at Ciudad de la Luz

The Tangled production arrives as part of a broader resurgence of activity at Ciudad de la Luz, which remains under the public company SPTD. Alongside Disney, British company Good Films is preparing The People of the Book and several other projects at the studios. Meanwhile, Netflix is filming a docudrama based on the 1990s Sala murder case at various locations around Alicante city.

For residents and visitors in the area, the practical upshot is simple: keep your eyes open. With crews operating across the city and surroundings for much of the year, chance encounters with the cast and production are not out of the question.

This article is based on reporting from Alicante Today, published March 31, 2026. Production details are subject to change. This article is for informational purposes only.