Disney's live-action Hercules will put a "modern spin" on the Olympian tale while also retaining some essential elements from the 1997 animated classic, according to producers Joe and Anthony Russo.
Speaking to GamesRadar+ at a recent press event, the Russo brothers discussed their intentions behind creating a live-action adaptation of Hercules. Joe explained that they are approaching the tale from a "more modern" angle, but that they still plan on honoring the original story and elevating some of the humor from Disney's animated movie in a way that dials it up from zero to hero levels of laughter.
"It will certainly pay homage to the original with a more modern spin on it," Joe asserted, referring to the Herculean task that they've taken on. "What Anthony and I love about the original is how funny and subversive it is. I think we try to embrace that sense of humor in the remake."
This isn't the first time that the Russo brothers have teased their plans for the reimagined, live-action version of Hercules. They previously established expectations for the film by warning fans that it wouldn't be "a literal translation" of the animated hit, as they are keen to tell "a different story" with some new elements in the mix while also taking inspiration from the original movie.
Joe and Anthony are being joined on the project by Guy Ritchie, who is taking his place on the production podium as the director of the new Hercules movie. He previously helmed Disney's live-action Aladdin adaptation, which managed to gross over $1 billion at the box office when it was released in 2019 and became the seventh highest-grossing film worldwide that year.
First released back in 1997, Hercules was one of the latter-day entries in the so-called Disney Renaissance, with Tate Donovan carrying the torch as the titular hero who flexes his muscles at the Prometheus Academy. Danny DeVito also starred as Phil, a surly satyr who trains aspiring heroes, and James Woods as Hades, the flame-haired, fast-talking god of the Underworld.
The modernized version of Hercules is the latest in a string of live-action adaptations from Disney, joining the likes of Beauty and the Beast, Cinderella, and Mulan, which have all been released in recent years. The studio is also hard at work on a live-action Little Mermaid film, starring Halle Bailey as Ariel, and a remake of 1937's Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, with Rachel Zegler playing the fairest one of all.
Adele Ankers-Range is a freelance writer for IGN. Follow her on Twitter.