Summary
Disney’slive-action movies have generally been box office successes, even if they haven’t always been of the highest quality.The 1997 animated filmHerculesis one of the next in line to receive this treatment, with the Russo Brothers on board to freshen up this iconic movie.
While Hercules is only in early development due to the Russos being busy withAvengers: DoomsdayandAvengers: Secret Wars, that doesn’t mean they’re not working on things. However, there has reportedly been creative tension between them and Disney over the direction in which they want to takeHercules.
What Direction Do The Russo Brothers Want To Take Disney’s Hercules Live Action?
Disney Reportedly Wants Hercules To Be Different From That
Typically, Disney’s live-action remakes tell the same story as the original with a few minor tweaks, but that’snot what the Russo Brothers want to dowith their version ofHercules. According to industry insiderDaniel Richtman,they would prefer to focus the movie on Hades, who is the villain of the original animation. The God of the Underworld is one of Disney’s greatest villains and someone who plays a big part in the animated film. The Russo Brothers are even hoping to rename the movie after him.However, this is causing a conflict with Disney because they would prefer a more faithful remake that tells the story people are already familiar with. While Hades is showcased in some memorable scenes during the animation, the Russo Brothers would be looking to make him the main character if they get their way. However, at this point, it’s unclear whether or not an agreement has been reached about how the movie will be approached.
The Russo Brothers' Hercules Direction Would Provide Something New
Disney Fans Want To See Interesting Ideas From The Live-Action Remakes
If Disney were to go along withthe Russo Brothers' plansto focusHerculeson Hades, it would give fans a new direction, which is an exciting idea. Having the live-action remake focused on the villain would make this seem like a different story, and the opportunities for how that’s achieved are endless. Hercules himself would still be able to appear so that it wouldn’t be completely unfaithful to the original; it would simply provide a new spin on the story that audiences know so well.
Disney fans know and adore the animated movies the company keeps looking to remake in a live-action format, and telling the same story again isn’t interesting to them. It leads to instant comparison to the original, and more often than not, they don’t hold up as the same level of charm and fun cannot be delivered within a live-action setting. That’s why making the movies slightly different is the right way to go; it gives fans a unique insight into a story they’re already familiar with.Maleficentis the best example of that, as it still tells the story ofSleeping Beauty,but this time from the villain’s perspective. This made the movie feel fresh and worthwhile, andthe fact thatMaleficentgrossed $758.5 million worldwide proves that the idea can be a financial success if Disney is prepared to take that gamble.
Hades Is An Interesting Enough Character To Work As The Lead
The Russo Brothers' Idea Would Make Hercules Feel Like A Must-See Movie
Hercules is a brilliant lead character, with his story of going from zero to hero being an easy one to follow for most people. However, the mythology in this movie is worth exploring in more detail, and focusing the film on Hades would achieve that. The original portrayal of Hades by James Woods helped to make Hades one of themost charismatic villains in Disney history. If he was going to be shown in that light again, then there’s no doubt he would be captivating enough as a lead character.He has a Beetlejuice level of charm due to the energy he mixes with utter darkness, and a film with that style of tone would be a fresh approach for Disney to take. While some Disney villains are forgettable and wouldn’t be able to carry a movie on their own, Hades certainly could, which is what makes the Russo Brothers' idea so compelling.
If the Russo Brothers get their way and make the movie about Hades, there’s a good chance it will feel like a must-see movie, which might not be the caseif it’s simply a retellingofHercules. Adding a slightly darker twist with lots of humor is something that could work well. If the Russo Brothers were able to pull off the idea successfully, it has the potential to take Disney’s live-action remakes in a whole new direction moving forward, which is needed at this point. Ultimately, people who love theHerculesstory will always have the animation, and that’s why the Russo Brothers' version seems like the most appealing decision to make.
