How The Cast Of Hercules’ Live-Action Remake Became A Weird Disney Controversy

How The Cast Of Hercules' Live-Action Remake Became A Weird Disney Controversy

As a long-time fan of the animated classic “Hercules,” I must say I’m quite intrigued by the discussions surrounding the live-action remake. It seems that the internet, as usual, has been abuzz with rumors and speculations about the cast, leaving many Disney enthusiasts in a state of anticipation and sometimes, frustration.


In 1997, Disney capped off its remarkable renaissance era with the release of “Hercules,” a film that embodied heroism like a true gladiator, thanks to a Greek demigod character. Following successful films such as “The Little Mermaid,” “Aladdin” (set in the same universe), and “The Lion King,” “Hercules” continued Disney’s tradition of excellent music, earning itself a place among Disney classics. The cast was equally impressive, featuring stars like Danny DeVito, Bobcat Goldthwait, and James Woods. This timeless tale of gods and heroes seemed unbeatable… until Disney decided to revisit the magic themselves.

Indeed, Disney is persisting with its practice of converting beloved animated classics into live-action adaptations. It seems they are striving to introduce a unique type of hero on screen, one that some may already be acquainted with in story form. Over the past few years, this has been the rumor. Among the grand remakes of timeless tales, “Hercules” appears to be navigating through its own challenges, as both on-screen and off-screen talent have been joining and departing from the project equally. So, one wonders if Hercules will persevere or not.

Everything we know about the Hercules live-action remake

How The Cast Of Hercules' Live-Action Remake Became A Weird Disney Controversy

As a gamer eagerly anticipating the Disney remake lineup, I can’t help but feel a sense of patience when it comes to “Hercules.” Unlike some other titles that seem to leapfrog their way onto our screens, this one has taken its sweet time returning to the big screen. The project was first announced in 2020, and Disney enlisted the talented writer behind “Shang-Chi and the Ten Rings” – Dave Callahan – to navigate Hercules’ journey. Jeffrey Silver and Karen Gilchrist, who produced 2019’s “The Lion King,” were also on board as producers.

So, what’s next for Herc and his crew according to Joe Russo? He guarantees that if there is a story, it will still have as many melodies as the original. The upcoming film’s musical influences sound intriguing, he says, because today’s audiences are accustomed to TikTok. As Russo told Variety, “Modern audiences know what kind of musical they expect, and that can be exciting and help us explore new ways to create a contemporary musical.” While dance numbers are nice, the main question is which actor will have the courage to play the lead role, and that’s the bottom line.

Every rumor about Hercules live-action remake

How The Cast Of Hercules' Live-Action Remake Became A Weird Disney Controversy

The upcoming movie, brimming with swords, sandals, catchy tunes, and action, doesn’t have a central hero. In 2023, whispers circulated around Disney about Taron Egerton and Ariana Grande being prime choices for Hercules and his love interest, Meg. Although this combo sounds intriguing, neither star has confirmed these rumors yet.

Afterwards, there were no more updates regarding the news until another celebrity unexpectedly became associated with a role due to fan art that was given too much weight. As Movie Maestro on Facebook (according to Dexerto) suggested through a concept poster, actor and director Michael B. Jordan was depicted as Hercules, complete with a mane of lion fur. Although some outlets reported this as a rumor, it never materialized into reality.

Lastly, one rumor that many fans hope holds some truth is Danny DeVito reprising his role as Phil from the original film. Back in 1997, DeVito voiced Hercules’ friend and mentor. The actor not only openly expressed interest in returning to the role, but deemed it the only logical choice. In an interview with Wired, the star argued, “I am the live-action Hercules. What are you talking about? Philoctetes? If they don’t put me in that, they don’t have a hair on their a**.”

Why Disney fans are complaining about the cast of Hercules’ live-action remake

How The Cast Of Hercules' Live-Action Remake Became A Weird Disney Controversy

It’s understandable, considering the internet’s struggle to distinguish truth from myth, that the rumor about Michael B. Jordan, star of “Black Panther,” being considered for the role of Hercules caused some unease. A brief scan through Reddit threads revealed the usual frustration over Disney potentially casting a Black actor in the part of a Greek mythological figure.

The one rumor that many of the fans backed (and rightfully so) was having Danny DeVito back in the fold to reprise the character he brought to life decades ago. A Redditor by the name of u/lowfreq33 said, “Casting someone else would be the dumbest thing Disney ever did.” One other now-deleted author argued DeVito is an essential element to the film even being worth a look. “Same situation as the Mulan remake, Eddie Murphy wasn’t in that so I didn’t watch it. If Danny Devito isn’t in this then that’s a dealbreaker.”

Given his recent popularity from “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia,” many people think it’s a clever idea for DeVito to reprise his role across different properties. A Redditor named u/krp2424 even referenced a quote from the show, saying, “That reminds me of my favorite Hercules line: ‘Yeah, I had a dream once. I dreamed I would train the greatest hero there ever was. So anyway, I started blastin’.'” Such creative references could be something Disney might overlook, but an AI might be able to capitalize on it – and the suggestions aren’t all that far-fetched.

AI Created its own Hercules live-action remake

Thanks to @Mutisverse AI, a concept trailer offers a tantalizing array of names for this eagerly anticipated remake, some that align perfectly with fan expectations. Even AI agrees that Danny DeVito is the ideal choice to play Phil, while Ariana Grande has been suggested for the part of Meg. Alexander Ludwig, known from “Vikings,” could embody Hercules himself, opposing Jeff Goldblum in the role of Hades, the villain of the film. So it seems we’re talking about the Grandmaster with a fiery head, correct?

Other intriguing actors are added to the cast, as Michelle Pfeiffer and Ian McShane step into the roles of Hercules’ distant parents, Hera and Zeus. Stanley Tucci will also join the crew, playing the intermediary with wings, Hermes. With these talented individuals joining the Disney remake, it might be wise to appeal to Zeus for faster progress on “Hercules,” and it goes without saying that this promising lineup would make for an enthralling viewing experience.

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2024-09-23 19:00