Michael Keaton is Hades: The cast of the viral live-action production “Hercules” also rejects Disney’s alleged request for a black leading actor

Disney fans are overjoyed by a viral casting announcement for the upcoming live-action series Hercules New edition.

Directed by Ron Clements and John Musker, Disney’s Hercules (1997) tells the story of the eponymous hero, the son of Zeus (Rip Torn), who is rendered mortal by the evil god Hades (James Woods). A young man with extraordinary powers, Hercules embarks on a journey to restore his divine status by proving himself a true hero.

Accompanied by his mentor, the satyr Phil, played by Danny DeVito, and his faithful winged horse Pegasus, Hercules must overcome numerous trials and opponents, including the manipulative Hades, who wants to overthrow Zeus and rule over Olympus. Hercules is a popular part of the Disney Renaissance era and is therefore inevitably made into a live-action film.

In addition to other classic Disney animated stories, there is also a live-action Hercules is also on the agenda for the Walt Disney Company. Although there are no cast confirmations yet, the anticipation is high considering how popular the Disney animated film is. In fact, the anticipation is so high that fans have taken matters into their own hands and chosen the cast for the film themselves.

The result is a viral live action Hercules Poster featuring the entire cast. The cast, circulating on social media sites such as Facebook and TikTok, includes Zane Phillips as the titular Hercules and Jodie Comer as lover Meg. Michael Keaton, known from Batman and Beetlejuice, plays the role of the god of the underworld, Hades.

Others starring in the fictional event include Danny DeVito, who voiced Phil in the original film, Jennifer Hudson, Stanley Tucci, Simon Pegg and Nick Frost. You can find the poster here.

Phillips, who has worked on projects such as Fire Island (2022), InheritancesAnd Glamoroushas long been touted for the role of Hercules due to his charm and physique. However, according to rumors spanning three years, Disney wants a person of color to play the lead role in the live-action film. Hercules New edition.

Director Guy Ritchie will reportedly cast a person of color in the lead role of Hercules in his upcoming live-action reboot. In Disney’s 1997 animated classic, the character was originally voiced by Tate Donovan/Josh Keaton and sung by Roger Bart.

For years, rumors have been circulating that Disney is considering a person of color for the title role, with Michael B. Jordan, known for his roles in Believe (2015) and Black Panther (2018) is a prominent candidate. However, neither Disney nor Jordan have confirmed talks of him being cast as the legendary hero.

Casting a person of color in the role of Hercules is in line with other recent adaptations of the Greek god-inspired film, such as the theater production that cast a black actor in the title role. A new version of the stage show will soon be seen in London’s West End at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane.

Anthony and Joe Russo will produce the live action Herculeswhich aims to offer a modern take on Disney’s original story, with some inspiration from TikTok. Guy Ritchie, who successfully created Disney’s Aladdin (2019), which grossed over $1 billion worldwide.

Dave Callaham, known for his work on Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings (2021) and Spider-Man: Through the Spider-Verse (2023), will write the screenplay.

Disney’s live-action films have gained widespread attention through their adaptations of beloved animated classics and original stories. Since the early 2000s, Disney has reimagined many of its animated hits as live-action films.

This trend was reinforced by high-profile publications such as Cinderella (2015), The jungle Book (2016) and Beauty and the Beast (2017). Each offered a fresh take on Disney’s animated favorites, often incorporating new elements to appeal to both nostalgic viewers and new audiences.

The live-action list also includes adaptations of animated classics such as Mulan (2020) and Cruella (2021), which reimagines the origins of iconic characters. Disney’s live-action films continue to combine innovative visual effects, all-star casts, and beloved stories, maintaining a strong presence in the film industry and appealing to audiences seeking both nostalgia and new adventures.

Although they feature prominently on Disney’s list, with releases such as Disney’s Snow White (2025) and Vaiana – The wonderful world of love (2026) is coming soon, live-action remakes are not always well received. In fact, there are a handful of films, such as Rob Marshall’s The little mermaid (2023) are among the most controversial films from Mouse.

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It will be interesting to see if the live action Hercules does justice to its Disney predecessor.

The 1997 version of Hercules received positive reviews for its entertaining story, humor, and musical numbers. However, it did not achieve the same box office success as some of Disney’s earlier hits from the 1990s, such as Aladdin (1992) and The Lion King (1994).

Related: Disney officially stops production of live-action films

Nevertheless, the film has now gained a loyal fan base and remains a popular addition to Disney’s animation canon.

What do you think of this casting of the live-action Hercules Remake? Let Inside the Magic know in the comments below!