Hercules Live-Action Remake Causes “Creative Tensions” Between Disney and Russo Brothers

When discussing Hercules, it’s hard not to think of it as “Hunkules, ”especially with the Russo brothers at the helm of the live-action remake. However, their vision seems to be clashing with Disney, leading to “creative tension”regarding the project.

Following their monumental triumphs with Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame, the Russo brothers have had a quieter period recently, excluding their work on The Electric State. They are slated to return to the Marvel Universe with Avengers: Doomsday and Avengers: Secret Wars, though those films are still several years away.

Disney announced in 2022 that a live-action adaptation of Hercules was in the works, originally with Guy Ritchie attached to direct. However, when that collaboration fell through, the Russo brothers stepped in to revitalize the project.

Creative Direction Sparks Tensions Between the Russo Brothers and Disney

Rest assured, the live-action Hercules is still actively being developed. However, as reported by Hollywood insider DanielRPK, the Russo brothers are advocating for a fresh approach to the story. Allegedly, the source of the “creative tensions”lies in their desire to pivot the focus toward Hades, the iconic villain from the original animated feature.

Hercules turns his back to Megara, laughing — Disney

In fact, there’s speculation that the film’s title may even change to Hades, mirroring the approach taken with the Maleficent series as opposed to a straightforward adaptation of Sleeping Beauty. In contrast, Disney reportedly desires a more faithful recreation of the beloved 1997 animation.

At this point, the actual status of the tensions remains unclear, and it is undetermined whether the two parties have reached a consensus. The latest updates indicated that the Russo brothers were still “waiting on a script” penned by Dave Callaham, known for his work on Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, when the project first garnered attention in 2020. Whether this situation has progressed is yet to be confirmed.

With recent live-action adaptations like Snow White featuring Rachel Zegler and Gal Gadot, it was initially thought that Disney might be scaling back its reimaginings. However, the box office performance of titles such as Lilo & Stitch could potentially alter that trajectory.

Additionally, anticipated live-action projects including Cruella 2, The Jungle Book 2, The Hunchback of Notre Dame, and The Aristocats seem to be in limbo for the time being.

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