A Live-Action "Hercules" Is In The Works, And People On Twitter Are Very Passionate About Who Should Be Cast

    Jennifer Hudson, I'm not saying you have to clear your schedule for this project. I'm just saying it would make a lot of people (me) very happy.

    Dannica Ramirez
    by Dannica Ramirez

    BuzzFeed Staff

    Hercules fans, Disney enthusiasts, and Greek mythology nerds, stand up! If you haven't yet heard, Sean Bailey, president of Walt Disney Pictures, recently told the New York Times that a live-action remake of Disney's beloved 1997 animated movie Hercules is currently in development.

    The animated Hercules with shield
    Disney

    Other live-action remakes that were mentioned included Moana, Lilo & Stitch, and a prequel to The Lion King, titled Mufasa: The Lion King. Sean also noted that Hocus Pocus 3 is in the works. 

    Though the Hercules live-action remake isn't necessarily new news, since the Russo brothers confirmed with Variety late last year that they were going to produce the film, Sean's further confirmation stirred up some very passionate discourse in the Twittersphere about casting.

    This app might finally slip into an abyss when they announce the casting for this. https://t.co/4ouPdgslqT

    — this barbie hosts ✨The Afternoon Special✨ (@hiimbobbi) June 6, 2023
    Twitter: @hiimbobbi
    And TBH, the fervor is justified, especially after the intense backlash the Lilo & Stitch remake received for its Nani casting.

    That said, here's who people think should be cast in the highly anticipated live-action remake of Hercules — and I wanna know in the comments if you agree!

    1. The Muses

    Muses Thalia, Melpomene, Calliope, Clio, and Terpsichore
    Disney

    This is arguably the most important casting decision in the history of Disney live-action remakes, so I speak for the masses when I say Disney has to get it right. Otherwise, what's the point?! 

    Jennifer Hudson (specifically as Calliope):

    I need Jennifer Hudson to be cast as Calliope in Hercules as a matter of urgency pic.twitter.com/2y71U8Z66B

    — Liv Marks (@OliviaLilyMarks) August 15, 2021
    @OliviaLilyMarks / Wired / youtube.com / Via Twitter: @OliviaLilyMarks
    Jennifer smiling and wearing a shiny paneled outfit, and animated Calliope in a golden outfit
    Todd Williamson / NBC / NBC via Getty Images, Disney

    That was basically an audition tape — sorry, I don't make the rules!

    Jazmine Sullivan and Amber Riley:

    Just give Jazmine and Amber Riley their spots now

    — ICY❄️ (@00isis7) June 5, 2023
    @scientistmike35 / @00isis7 / Disney / Via Twitter: @00isis7
    Smiling Jazmine and smiling animated Melpomene
    Taylor Hill / WireImage, Disney
    Amber, wearing large hoop earrings and a strapless outfit, and animated Thalia
    Rodin Eckenroth / Getty Images, Disney

    After watching Amber and Jennifer duet together, I'm going to sleep with a crystal every night and speak this casting into existence every morning so it can manifest itself into reality. Amber would really bring Thalia — who's the muse of comedy — to life! Gleeks would know.

    Alternatively, Lizzo is also a top pick to play Thalia, but TBH, I'm making an executive decision and casting her as Terpsichore:

    LIZZO FOR LIVE ACTION HERCULES MUSES pic.twitter.com/LD1wA43DmS

    — emma (@kissyyhrry) August 13, 2021
    @kissyyhrry / Atlantic Records / youtube.com / Via Twitter: @kissyyhrry
    I say this because Terspichore is the muse of dance, and in fact, she also plays the flute! Not to get ahead of myself, but imagine if Lizzo had a scene totally shredding it on the flute!!!! Iconic.

    Close-up of Lizzo smiling and animated Terpsichore
    Taylor Hill / Getty Images, Disney

    Lizzo herself actually reacted to fans casting her as Thalia in a TikTok, agreeing that she's more akin to Terpsichore as well. Honestly, Disney, just let me into the casting room. 

    Cynthia Erivo:

    Lizzo, Cynthia Erivo, Jennifer Hudson, Amber Riley and Keke Palmer.

    THAT’S who i want to play the muses in the live action Hercules

    — Max Gill (@Mxxgll) August 14, 2021
    @Mxxgll / Via Twitter: @Mxxgll
    Close-up of Cynthia in a sparkly costume and animated Clio
    Gareth Cattermole / BAFTA / Getty Images for BAFTA, Disney

    No matter which muse she plays, fans just want Cynthia, PERIOD. 

    Finally, the fans are also calling forth Keke Palmer as a muse:

    Idk about all of you but I’m personally not seated until I know keke palmer is one of the muses https://t.co/DefxvL4JfV pic.twitter.com/y3tXef5YFl

    — keke palmer updates (fan account) (@kekeupdate) June 5, 2023
    @kekeupdate / Disney / ABC / youtube.com / Via Twitter: @kekeupdate
    Keke in a strapless outfit and animated Terpsichore
    Mike Coppola / Getty Images, Disney

    Keke singing "Zero to Hero" simply gets me through the day. 

    2. Phil

    I think we can all agree that Danny DeVito simply needs to reprise his role. Like, I'm so sure we're all on the same page about this:

    if danny devito isn't phil we will jan 6 disney world https://t.co/gAgUS5D25d

    — shoe (@shoe0nhead) June 7, 2023
    @shoe0nhead / Disney / Via Twitter: @shoe0nhead
    Close-up of Danny smiling and animated Phil
    Santiago Felipe / Getty Images, Disney

    Seriously, there's no other person people want.

    3. Hades

    Steve Buscemi:

    And when I get Steve Buscemi as Hades? https://t.co/eexHfvh5IZ

    — Splenda Pappy (@caroline_oreo) June 17, 2022
    @caroline_oreo / Disney / Via Twitter: @caroline_oreo
    Close-up of Steve and animated Hades
    Gary Gershoff / Getty Images, Disney

    Call me uncultured, but I literally thought he played Hades this whole time.

    Willem Dafoe:

    only if either Steve Buscemi or Willem Dafoe plays the role of Hades https://t.co/v5Kox5Np1p

    — the spectacular spider-seal (@bigsealmove) April 30, 2020
    @bigsealmove / Disney / Via Twitter: @bigsealmove
    Close-up of Willem in a suit and animated Hades
    Jesse Grant / Getty Images for Quiver Distribution, Disney

    The one and only Jeff Goldblum:

    Jeff Goldblum as Hades in the live-action Hercules, please.

    — sincerely, ivy marie. 💫 (@sincerelyivy) April 30, 2020
    @sincerelyivy / Via Twitter: @sincerelyivy
    Close-up of bespectacled Jeff in a hoodie and animated Hades
    Jamie McCarthy / Getty Images, Disney

    And lastly, I would literally fall to my knees in excitement if this happened — Jennifer Coolidge:

    The campaign to get Jennifer Coolidge as Hades starts NOW https://t.co/d0w5UtKgMh

    — Connor Lounsbury (@ConnorLounsbury) June 6, 2023
    @ConnorLounsbury / Disney / Via Twitter: @ConnorLounsbury
    Close-up of Jennifer and Hades
    Steve Granitz / FilmMagic, Disney

    4. Hercules

    OK, here's where I think we get into controversial territory. Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson as Hercules, anybody?

    My picks…

    Hercules — Dwayne Johnson
    Phil — Danny DeVito
    Hades — Paul Giamatti
    Meg — Chloe Bailey
    Zeus — Jeff Bridges
    Hera — Dionne Warwick
    Muses — Beyoncé, Janelle Monáe, Adele https://t.co/wqqRlDU9cK

    — Charlotte Clymer 🇺🇦 (@cmclymer) June 5, 2023
    @cmclymer / Disney / Via Twitter: @cmclymer
    Sorry, but the number of faves is a little concerning...

    Close-up of The Rock in a bow tie and animated Hercules
    Kayla Oaddams / WireImage, Disney

    Jared Keeso is also in the running, thanks to his proportions:

    I still maintain Jared Keeso is the only living human with the correct Jaw-to-Neck ratio to play Hercules https://t.co/ubTvjz6Uab pic.twitter.com/dDKF6MYU3r

    — Kelly Turnbull (@Coelasquid) June 5, 2023
    @Coelasquid / Hulu / Disney / Via Twitter: @Coelasquid
    Close-up of Jared in a suit and tie and an animated Hercules
    George Pimentel / WireImage, Disney

    And finally, this person posed the question, and the fans answered. Taron Egerton:

    What about Taron Egerton for Hercules?

    — Daniel Richtman #BlackLivesMatter (@DanielRPK) May 12, 2020
    @DanielRPK / Via Twitter: @DanielRPK
    Close-up of Taron in a bow tie and an animated Hercules
    Frazer Harrison / Getty Images, Disney

    5. Now, for the grand finale, let's see who people are fan-casting as *drum roll* Megara.

    Jessica Alexander:

    and when they cast jessica alexander as meg- https://t.co/01DeL7ryXm

    — Aya 𑁥౿ (@ziarastar) June 5, 2023
    @Ziarastar / Disney / Via Twitter: @ziarastar
    Close-up of Jessica in a sleeveless outfit and animated Megara
    Frazer Harrison / WireImage, Disney

    Jessica played Vanessa in Disney's live-action The Little Mermaid, and she did it so well that people want to see more of her ASAP!

    Ariana Grande:

    give it to ariana grande butera gomez https://t.co/zgIWjMepfL pic.twitter.com/UYzGfsdFHp

    — daisy (@swtnrdaisy) June 9, 2023
    @swtnrdaisy / Disney / ABC / youtube.com / Via Twitter: @swtnrdaisy
    After Ariana's done playing Glinda, maybe she'll be down for another musical turned live action 👀.

    Close-up of Ariana in a strapless outfit and animated Megara
    Steve Granitz / WireImage, Disney

    And last, but certainly not least, Elizabeth Gillies:

    Now that Ariana Grande has been cast in Wicked, it’s time for me to revitalize the campaign for Liz Gillies to play Megara in a live-action Hercules: pic.twitter.com/ZK2ytCaRU7

    — Dan (@dannah__montana) November 7, 2021
    @dannah_montana / The CW / Via Twitter: @dannah__montana
    Close-up of Elizabeth and an animated Megara
    Jerod Harris / FilmMagic, Disney

    Not gonna lie, I would LOVE for Liz to play Meg. She has the voice, and I'm sure she could do a great job acting the part as well. I'm officially joining the campaign.

    OK, how are we feeling? There were definitely some...interesting choices, but also some great ones! Let me know in the comments who you'd fan-cast for the live-action Hercules!