Featured Image Credit: Alamy/Disney
Topics: Disney, Film and TV, Entertainment
Emily Brown
Director Guy Ritchie is set to take on a live-action remake of the beloved 1997 Disney film Hercules.
The songs featured in Hercules no doubt provided a soundtrack to many 90s kids' childhoods, and the story of Hercules having to become a true hero in order to regain his immortality will be one many are familiar with.
Now, however, the film has become part of the 'classic' Disney collection undergoing a live-action makeover. A first draft of the script has been written written by Dave Callaham, who is also responsible for Marvel’s Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings.
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Ritchie proved himself to be capable of bringing old Disney animations into the modern world as he directed the 2019 remake of Aladdin, which featured Will Smith and crossed the $1 billion mark at the global box office, and now he'll take the reigns again for the new Hercules film, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
Disney is currently on the hunt for writers to work on the project, while Joe and Anthony Russo, who brought us Avengers: Endgame and Infinity War, are set to produce the film via their AGBO banner.
News of the remake has been met with mixed reviews from fans – who clearly love writing in all caps – with one making clear their opinion would depend on the actors involved as they wrote: "OH NO THIS COULD BE REALLY GOOD AND FUN WITH THE RIGHT CAST…."
Another was more optimistic about the news, writing: "THIS IS THEE LIVE ACTION REMAKE THAT WE SHOULDVE GOTTEN BEFORE EVERYTHING ELSE [sic]."
"DON'T TOUCH MY MOVIE," a third wrote.
Whether for or against, the use of all caps makes clear people are passionate about their thoughts on the matter.
Hercules was originally directed by Ron Clements and Jon Musker, with the main character voiced by Tate Donovan, while other cast members included Susan Egan, James Woods, and Danny DeVito.
It's not yet clear whether the new version of the film will maintain the musical elements of the original, though other live-action remakes such as Beauty and the Beast and The Lion King have all featured songs like their predecessors.
The news of Hercules comes ahead of the release of some of Disney's other live-action remakes, including Snow White, directed by Marc Webb, and The Little Mermaid, which is directed by Rob Marshall and stars Halle Bailey as Ariel.
With the writing process still underway for Hercules, a release date has not yet been determined.
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