DVDizzy Forum

DisneyFan97 wrote:My opinion is that Hercules is the best male lead in any Disney animated movie.

Many Disney are are either bland like Li shang, Generic hero types like Phoebus or smug and overly morden like Flynn Rider.

Aladdin is also great

Disney's Divinity wrote:

DisneyFan97 wrote:My opinion is that Hercules is the best male lead in any Disney animated movie.

Many Disney are are either bland like Li shang, Generic hero types like Phoebus or smug and overly morden like Flynn Rider.

Aladdin is also great

I agree that Hercules and Aladdin are the two best male protagonists Disney has. I also like Jim Hawkins and Milo, even if they come from films that weren't as well-received.

I still don't know what to expect out of this. If it's true they were once going to have Cumberbatch and Heard for Hades and Megara, maybe the film will be more or less the same, except a little more serious. I hope they keep the Muses. I can't get the idea of JHUD as Calliope and Sherri Shepherd as Thalia out of my head, although perhaps Queen Latifah could work just as well as Thalia or better considering she's funny and can sing. The other three had less personality in the movie--I wouldn't mind Jordin Sparks as one of them, love her and JHUD. Maybe JHUD for Calliope (the lead), Alicia Keys for Melpomene (Muse of Tragedy), Sparks as Terpsichore (Dance), Lupita Nyong'o as Clio (History), and Latifah as Thalia (Comedy).

DisneyFan97 wrote:
Maybe Betty White, Carol Burnett and Lily Tomlin for the Fates

DisneyFan97 wrote: Tom Holland should play young Hercules

Clindor wrote:I’m afraid this movie is gonna be a huge mess.. When you think of it, the original animated classic is actually kind of messy too... but in a rather good way. And this 1997-movie can definitely count me in its fanbase! But when you translate that into a live-action feature (considering the way Disney has been handling this over the past few years), I might personally be afraid of what may comes ahead.. The result has its chances of being rather awkward.

We Got This Covered previously brought you the news that Alexander Skarsgard was in the running to play the demi-god himself. But what would Hercules be without his nemesis, his evil uncle Hades? James Woods memorably brought the flame-haired devil to life in the cartoon, so Disney will have to find a charismatic actor to take over for the live-action version. And they might have found a good fit in the form of Doctor Strange‘s Benedict Cumberbatch.

We’ve been informed by our sources – the same ones who revealed an Aladdin sequel is happening, and that a Ms. Marvel show is in the works, both of which have since been confirmed – that he’s on the studio’s wishlist for the role of the villain. Of course, just because he’s on a wishlist doesn’t mean he’ll end up with the part, and he may not even be aware that he’s being eyed, but our sources are confident that he’s at least one of the actors that Disney is considering.

If the notion of Cumberbatch playing the Lord of the Underworld sounds familiar though, that’s because a rumor was going around last month that claimed the British star was set to portray the villain. The same rumor also pointed to Trevor Donovan competing for the title role. This info turned out to be onto something yesterday, too, when Donovan let slip that he “kinda sorta” is up for the part but that he’s “not supposed to say anything.”

Our source has now given us an update on who Disney wants for Herc’s nemesis Hades, though. In the original 1997 adventure, James Woods voiced the flame-haired villain, lending him his fast-talking wise guy persona. For the remake, however, it appears that the studio is going in a different direction and are looking for British actors known for their class and charisma. That’s what we can take away from the two names we’ve been told are on Disney’s wishlist: Benedict Cumberbatch and Tom Hiddleston. However, at this stage, it’s unclear if these actors have even been approached as they’re only on an internal wishlist, so who knows whether they’d have any interest in the role. And seeing as this intel comes from the same sources who told us an Aladdin sequel was happening, and that Robert Pattinson was locked in as Batman, we have no reason to doubt it.

Walt Disney Studios has found its next live-action remake of one of their animated films with Hercules; we have exclusively learned.

The studio has tapped Jeffery Silver (The Lion King, Tron: Legacy) and Karen Gilchrist (The Lion King, The Mandalorian) to produce. The film is expected to be a theatrical release, not a Disney+ original like Lady and the Tramp, as well as Robin Hood and Lilo & Stitch both in pre-production. The film is expected to feature songs from the original animated film, with new ones likely being added.

Another huge thing I want to add to this piece are three directors that I’ve heard from pretty reliable sources that the studio is interested in to direct the project. Let me start off by saying these are just names I’ve heard and are by no means in any formal discussions.

The first name I’ve heard most recently from two different sources is Jon Favreau, Favreau has directed two of Disney’s most successful live-action remakes in 2016’s The Jungle Book and 2019’s The Lion King, which would re-team him with both Silver and Gilchrist.

The second name I heard maybe a year ago was the Joe and Anthony Russo a.k.a the Russo Brothers, who directed four of the most highly-praised Marvel films of all-time Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014), Captain America: Civil War (2016), Avengers: Infinity War (2018), and the highest-grossing movie of all-time, 2019’s Avengers: Endgame. I’ve also heard they are both big fans of the animated film.

The last name I heard but have the least faith in terms of who I heard it from is Gore Verbinski, who directed and kicked off one of Disney’s most successful franchises ever, with the first three Pirates of the Caribbean films. Verbinski also directed 2013’s The Lone Ranger, which was also expected to kick off its own franchise. Sadly, the film flopped, and those plans were quickly scrapped, though the film has been met with a cult following in recent years.

I’d like to finish up by reiterating that these are just names I’ve heard, and none of these directors are in talks or are officially being looked at by the studio.

Once a director is tapped, the studio will begin the search for their lead stars. Despite the current Hollywood shut down due to the coronavirus, it is expected the studio will meet with writers/directors/actors via Zoom.

nomad2010 wrote:I’m shocked they aren’t trying to get Taika Waititi on this. I know he’s doing the next Thor but this movie is so far off there’s no way he couldn’t do it. He’s an expert at blending heart and humor and action. Whereas I think that the options listed never hit the emotional marks necessary for a story like this.