A live-action remake of Disney's 1997 "Hercules" is in the works, and there have been all sorts of rumors surrounding the all-star cast of the mythical drama remake.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, live-action reports of the demigod's journey from zero to hero first appeared in April 2020, when there was also news that Joe Russo and Anthony Russell of Avengers: Endgame were serving as producers.
Subsequently, the news that Guy Ritchie, the director of "Aladdin" (2019), signed on to direct was also confirmed (via variety).
When will Disney's live-action Hercules be released in theaters?
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Disney has yet to announce the release date of Hercules, and all previous updates were shared ahead of the 2023 Writers Guild of America and Screen Actors Guild-Federation of Television and Radio Artists strike.
While it's hard to say when the premiere date will be confirmed, fans won't be able to see the animated feature until 2026 at the earliest. Disney is already scheduled to release Mufasa: The Lion King on December 20, 2024, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs on March 21, 2025, and Moana on June 27, 2025.
Who is the cast of Disney's live-action Hercules?
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At the moment, the official cast of the "Hercules" remake has not been announced.
However, insider tipster Daniel Richman reported that Disney is considering Taron Egerton from "Ace**: Academy" and "Rocketman" to play Hercules.
This makes a lot of sense, because not only does Egerton resemble Hercules in the anime, but he can also sing, just like he did in Rocketman and the animated film The Voice series.
For Hercules' spicy, confident lover Xiaomei, Disney is reportedly considering Ariana Grande, and interestingly, she has already covered "From Zero to Hero" and "I Won't Say I Fell in Love" from Hercules.
As for Hercules' coach, the grumpy centaur of ancient Greece, Danny DeVito is negotiating ahead of the 2023 Screen Actors Guild-United of American Federation of Television and Radio Artists strike, ready to recreate his role in the 1997 film.
Is Disney live-action Hercules a sequel?
From what is known so far, it does not look like this upcoming remake will be a sequel.
However, Disney fans shouldn't expect a word-for-word retelling of animated classics like Jon Favreau's The Lion King, as Disney's live-action Hercules takes a different approach.
Back in 2022, Joe Russell confirmed to Variety that the remake would not be a "reinterpretation of an animated film" and more of an "experiment in tone".
The Marvel director even mentioned the show's impact on social, noting that today's audience is "trained on TikTok":
There are some questions about how to translate it in the form of a **drama. Today's audience has been trained on TikTok, right? What can they expect from the look and feel of this kind of ** show? This can be a lot of fun and help us push the boundaries of executing modern dramas a little bit. February** Dynamic Incentive Plan