There’s a new nepo baby in Gen Z’s crosshairs, and his name is Milo Manheim Everything you need to know about the actor who will play Flynn Rider in Disney's live-action Rapunzel

Born in 2001, 1.90 m tall, with a captivating gaze: no, I’m not talking about the charming thief Flynn Rider, who managed to steal Rapunzel’s heart, but about someone who could look a lot like him. A few days ago, I came across a TikTok video with over 1 million likes titled “The most famous Disney nepo babies.” One of the top spots in the ranking was given to the actor chosen as the male lead of the Tangled live-action: Milo Manheim. The question arises naturally: who are his parents? Does the title “Ghost Whisperer” ring a bell? What about “The Practice”? These are just some of the series his mother, Camryn Manheim, has appeared in. An Emmy and Golden Globe winner, back in Venice in the now-distant 2000s, the actress made an important decision: to become a mother even without a partner. This doesn’t mean Milo grew up without a father—quite the opposite. The sperm donor chosen by Camryn was one of her closest friends, former model Jeffrey Brezovar. As the young Hollywood rising star has said in several interviews, Jeffrey has always been present in his life, and they still share a beautiful relationship today. There’s no doubt about it: he’s a child of the industry and spent much of his childhood surrounded by film sets, cameras, and spotlights. But is all of this enough to be a good actor?

Here’s why Milo Manheim is much more than just a “Disney Kid”

“Only Milo Manheim could make me watch an entire movie about the Nativity,” a girl ironically commented under a TikTok video showing the actor’s singing skills in Journey to Bethlehem, a Christmas musical in which he plays Joseph. It’s no longer a secret: in the pop culture landscape, Manheim is very popular with Gen Z, and this has nothing to do with his last name. He started acting at the age of 6, plays five instruments, and studied acting at one of New York’s most prestigious academies: NYU Tisch School of the Arts. Okay, it’s true, he owes much of his success to Disney and to the TV series ZOMBIES, which saw him as the lead for several seasons. But why does the internet focus so much on this detail? In the collective imagination, the label “Disney Kid” is very often used in a derogatory way, to refer to a “marketing product” or a “concept” rather than an artist. Many directors or critics struggle to take seriously an actor who has danced and sung for Disney, creating audiovisual products for “children.” In recent years, U.S. media have compared the new generation of “Disney Kids” to the previous one, claiming that today more than ever, to become a Disney star you have to be “someone’s child.” Among the names that frequently pop up on social media in this discussion is Kylie Cantrall, known for her role as Gabby Duran on Disney Channel and Red in Descendants. But can I share my opinion? Miley Cyrus is also the daughter of Billy Ray, yet Hannah Montana was a worldwide success that gave her a music career. And Zendaya? Didn’t she become one of the most sought-after actresses in auteur cinema despite starting out right here? So why don’t we try, for once, to put labels aside?

Rapunzel will have a multifaceted thief

“I love Disney and I will never be ashamed of having been a Disney kid. I’ll always be proud of it. I also know my worth as an actor. Managing a smooth transition (toward more mature roles) is something you feel as you go through it. I’ll always be authentic and genuine. I’m a very goofy person, and I’ll always carry this trait with me,” Milo confessed to People, emphasizing that he recognizes his own value. Recently, we’ve seen him take on more complex characters, such as Wally Clark in School Spirits on Paramount+. In 2018, he even took part in the 27th season of the American version of Dancing with the Stars, placing second. The music world wants him too, just think that the current it-girl, Sabrina Carpenter, chose him as the lead actor for the Feather music video. But his career goes beyond the camera as well. Musicals have always been his passion, and in 2025 he performed alongside the famous Elizabeth Gillies in Little Shop of Horrors at the Westside Theatre in New York. In short, Milo Manheim has proven himself to be a multifaceted artist and not just a simple “nepo baby.” For this very reason, I’m ready to bet that he’ll be worthy of the role of Flynn Rider, alongside his Rapunzel, actress Teagan Croft. The film will also be directed by Michael Gracey, director of the famous musical The Greatest Showman, which suggests that the musical and choreographic components will be of the highest level. I therefore hope that the final product will preserve the same magic I felt as a child when I first saw Tangled in the movie theater.