Movies

Russo Brothers Feud With Disney Over Hercules Remake

BBG News

A recent announcement suggested a disagreement between Disney and the Russo Brothers about the artistic approach for Disney’s forthcoming live-action adaptation of another beloved tale. The Russo Brothers, who are well-known for their collaboration with Disney from various Marvel Studios productions, find themselves at odds due to creative differences. They first gained recognition within the Marvel and Disney sphere by directing 2014’s Captain America: Winter Soldier, which later led to their participation in significant Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) projects such as Captain America: Civil War, Avengers: Infinity War, and Avengers: Endgame following that success.

After temporarily stepping away from Marvel productions to concentrate on their production company, AGBO, the duo has returned to directing duties for “Avengers: Doomsday” and “Avengers: Secret Wars”.

During their time working on Marvel projects, The Hollywood Reporter announced in April 2020 that Joe and Anthony Russo would be involved in a live-action reboot of Disney’s 1997 animated film, “Hercules.” More recently, as of June 2022, Variety has reported that Guy Ritchie, director of “Aladdin,” will helm the upcoming “Hercules” reboot (with no confirmed release date at this time).

Currently, work on the movie ‘Hercules’ continues, but according to a recent report by Daniel Richtman, there seems to be creative disagreement brewing between Disney and the Russo Brothers regarding the direction for the upcoming live-action adaptation of ‘Hercules’.

According to reports, the Russo brothers plan to shift focus in their remake by making Hades the main character and have even proposed renaming the film from ‘Hercules’ to ‘Hades’. Yet, Disney is reportedly keen on sticking closer to the original story for the live-action remake.

1997’s beloved animated movie, “Hercules,” features James Woods as the antagonist Hades. He kidnaps baby Hercules and compels him to live among humans. Throughout the film, Hades persistently poses a danger to Hercules, aiming to thwart his attempts at reclaiming his divine status.

Previously, during an interview with Variety in November 2022, Joe Russo hinted at their version of the story of Hercules being slightly more experimental in style and approach. Additionally, he shared that Disney is eagerly anticipating the unique ideas they plan to bring to the table.

The upcoming movie “Hercules” will venture into new and innovative territories, both tonally and in its execution. The team behind it is eager to showcase their unique perspectives, creating something beyond just a remake of the animated version.

If the directing duo’s plans are realized, the Russos’ method for remaking live-action Hercules could mirror Robert Stromberg and Linda Woolverton’s strategy for the Maleficent film starring Angelina Jolie. In this case, they shifted the focus from Aurora (Sleeping Beauty) to the title character, Maleficent, rather than her.

From a movie-loving perspective, as I type this, the release of “Hercules” remains undetermined at the moment. However, it’s worth noting that Daniel Richtman mentioned in an earlier report back in April 2023 that Taron Egerton is being considered for the lead role.

Why Hades Could Be the Perfect Focus of Disney’s Live Action Hercules 

1997’s animated hit featured Hercules and his affection for Meg as its main focus, but it was Hades who won over many viewers, largely due to the captivating voice acting of James Woods.

Moreover, contrary to popular perception, Hades isn’t as wicked as his siblings Zeus and Poseidon in the original mythology. Instead, he’s often portrayed as a misunderstood deity, characterized by his fairness and strictness in judgment.

In the live-action remake, concentrating on Hades instead of Hercules could give the movie a unique edge, delving further into Hades’ point of view and presenting him in a more compassionate light. This approach would also provide an opportunity to uncover and reveal more about his past.

After the underwhelming box office results of Snow White and the postponement of another live-action adaptation of Tangled, it seems reasonable that taking a more innovative approach, as suggested by the Russos, would be the right move next.

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2025-06-10 04:35

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