The story of Hercules is one as old as time – older than time, in fact. The Greek legend tells of a man who is half-God and stronger than anyone in the world, and Disney captured the spirit of this myth in its 1997 animated film Hercules. It is now time for this great classic film to rise from the ashes as a live-action remake, and we can’t wait to see what fun new directions Disney takes the film!
The original animated Hercules followed the hero from humble beginnings as a scrawny but strong farmer boy into a beloved hero in the city, fighting Hades’ goons for the chance to become a full God again and rejoin his father, Zeus, in Olympia. Along the way, he falls in love with Meg, a spy for Hades, and the film tells a cautionary tale of what can happen when you let fame go to your head.
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The animated film made great use of its medium, allowing Hercules to complete death-defying stunts and perform incredible acts of strength on screen. We’re excited to see how Disney’s live-action remake adapts its source material for mortal actors!
Hercules: The Plot
Walt Disney Pictures
The film is being made by the Russo brothers, and they revealed in a recent press event that the live-action remake will be a “modern spin” on the original. Keeping the spirit of the animated film, the live-action promises new laughs and new directions. While the live-action film won’t be a direct remake, it will be inspired by the original’s “subversive” humor and story.
Joe Russo told GamesRadar:
While there’s no summary released for the live-action remake yet, the original Hercules synopsis reads:
The film is filled with gags, laughs, and musical numbers galore. We have yet to hear if the new Hercules will feature musical numbers from the original, forego them altogether, or perhaps, include new numbers to pay homage to the musical talents of Alan Menken and David Zippel.
Hercules: The Cast & Crew
No casting details for the live-action Hercules have been released yet. However, fans have been clamoring for answers and sharing their picks for months, hoping for answers. Danny DeVito reportedly wants to be cast in the remake, and rumors have circulated about behind-the-scenes reach-outs to actors like Chris Pratt and Chris Hemsworth to take the role of Hercules.
No official news is out yet, despite that “leaked” cast list circulating on Twitter that was proven fan-made. We’ll just have to be patient until Disney releases details on who will play Hercules and, even more excitingly, who will be his love interest Megara.
Guy Richie is set to direct the remake after his success with the live-action Aladdin remake in 2019. As a beloved classic from Disney’s renaissance, we’re eager to see how Richie and the Russo brothers adapt Hercules to live action!
Hercules: Everything Else We Know
The release of Disney’s live-action remakes has been met with mixed reviews from crowds. Some fans love the new remakes, enjoying the new songs and deeper looks into the characters’ lives. Others see these live-action remakes as a money grab by Disney, boycotting any release. Critics have given the remakes mixed reviews, despite overwhelming box office success speaking for audiences’ enjoyment of these reboots. With the topic so highly debated, we hope that Disney’s Hercules remake fairs better than its successors.
In September, Insider reported that Disney has 15 more live-action remakes on its roster, including Hercules. The Little Mermaid just has a trailer released with the news that Alan Menken, the original Little Mermaid and Hercules composer, will join the live-action team with new music in partnership with Lin Manuel Miranda. Snow White will also receive a theatrical live-action remake, due in 2024, and two Aladdin continuations are planned for the future. With so many live-action projects coming in the future, Disney seems set on continuing to remake their beloved classic animated films for the next generation of viewers.
With a fresh new spin on the classic Hercules film and a modern twist at play, we’re certainly excited to learn more about Disney’s live-action Hercules.
Release Date
Disney has yet to announce the film’s release date or window.
