Lorraine Williamson
Alicante is set to become one of Disney’s biggest filming bases in Spain after the company chose the Valencian Community for its live-action adaptation of Tangled, known in Spain as Enredados.
The project gives Ciudad de la Luz a major new production to work on and strengthens Spain’s position as a serious destination for large international shoots.
Ciudad de la Luz will be at the centre of the shoot
The strongest confirmed detail so far is that Alicante’s Ciudad de la Luz studios will serve as a key production base. The Generalitat said on Friday that Disney will shoot the superproduction in the Valencian Community, while El País reported that the initial filming plan will centre on the Alicante studios before moving to other locations and then returning to the complex.
That matters because this is not being presented as a token stop on a wider European schedule. According to the Valencian announcement, the region will be a central hub for the project. El País added that the work in Spain is expected to stretch across around eight months, which makes this more than a short, passing production visit.
What has been confirmed so far
The film is the live-action version of Disney’s 2010 animated hit about Rapunzel. El País reports that filming is expected to begin in Spain in late June, with Ciudad de la Luz in Alicante as the starting point, followed by locations in the Valencian Community and in the provinces of Girona and Burgos before the production returns to Alicante.
The same reporting says Michael Gracey is directing, with Teagan Croft cast as Rapunzel and Milo Manheim as Flynn Rider, while Kathryn Hahn will play the villain. The Generalitat’s announcement also presented the film as a major investment win for the region and framed it as another sign that the Valencian audiovisual sector is gaining ground internationally.
Why this matters beyond film fans
This is not only an entertainment story. It is also an economic and industrial one. The Generalitat said the project would deliver a significant economic, labour and social impact for the region, and described the agreement as a strategic boost for the Valencian audiovisual sector. Even without a full budget breakdown yet, an eight-month production plan of this scale is the kind of project that can feed work to crews, suppliers, accommodation providers and a wider local network around the studios.
It also adds to a broader picture. Spain has become increasingly attractive to large international productions thanks to its studio infrastructure, varied landscapes and experienced crews. Alicante’s role in this project strengthens the argument that the country is no longer just a scenic backdrop, but a serious operational base for global filmmaking. That is an inference from the production choice and official positioning, rather than a direct Disney statement.
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A symbolic moment for Ciudad de la Luz
There is another reason this story has weight. El País notes that Ciudad de la Luz was forced to close in 2012 after a European Union state-aid ruling and only resumed major audiovisual activity after the restriction was cut short in 2022. Landing a Disney production of this scale gives the Alicante complex one of its most visible wins since returning to business.
That makes the story bigger than a single film announcement. It becomes part of a longer narrative about the recovery of one of Spain’s best-known studio sites and the effort to restore Alicante’s place on the international production map.
Alicante gains a high-profile showcase
For Alicante, the value is not only what happens during filming. High-profile productions often leave a longer echo, whether through industry prestige, future bookings or public interest in the locations involved. The Generalitat has been trying to position the Valencian Community as an attractive base for international projects, and this announcement gives that strategy a clear headline moment.
The detail that still remains less clear is how much of the finished film will end up being visibly recognisable as Alicante or the wider Valencian Community on screen. But from an industry point of view, that almost matters less than the fact that the project is being coordinated from there.
A bigger vote of confidence in Spain
Disney is not just coming to Spain for a postcard shot. It is reportedly planning months of work here, with Alicante at the heart of it. That says something about how Spain is now seen by global productions looking for a mix of studios, locations and logistical support.
If the project unfolds as outlined, this will be one of the clearest recent examples of a major international studio choosing Spain not simply as scenery, but as infrastructure. For Alicante and Ciudad de la Luz, that is the real significance of the announcement.