Ahead of Guy Ritchie’s Live-Action Remake, Beloved Animated Classic With 83% RT Finds New Success on Streaming

The film Hercules is currently popular on the streaming service . It’s landed in the Top 10 most-watched movies, and a live-action remake directed by Guy Ritchie is in the works.

Disney+’s most popular movies in the U.S. currently include Hercules at No. 4, according to FlixPatrol. The animated film is also performing well internationally, ranking as a top 4 movie in countries like Trinidad and Tobago, Jamaica, Barbados, and Haiti.

Hercules Was Released During the Disney Renaissance

As a huge Disney fan, I always think about how Hercules came out during such a magical time for the studio – the Disney Renaissance! From 1989 to 1999, they were really hitting their stride again with films people loved. It was directed by John Musker and Ron Clements, and it was actually their fourth movie together for Disney – they ended up making seven films for the studio in total, which is pretty amazing!

Inspired by the classic myth of Hercules, the movie follows the demigod as he strives to prove himself a true hero. By doing so, he hopes to regain his place among the gods on Mount Olympus, but his villainous uncle, Hades, is determined to stop him.

The animated film Hercules stars Tate Donovan as the voice of Hercules, Danny DeVito as Philoctetes, and Susan Egan as Megara. Lillias White, Cheryl Freeman, LaChanze, Roz Ryan, and Vaneese Thomas provide the voices for the Muses, who narrate the story.

Although critics generally liked Hercules – Rotten Tomatoes gave it an 83% approval rating – the movie didn’t do as well at the box office as other Disney films from that era, earning a little over $250 million worldwide.

The movie has become a favorite among Disney fans, as shown by its recent popularity on Disney+. It continues to be an important part of the studio’s offerings, and over the years, it’s expanded into an animated series, a direct-to-video sequel, and even a stage show.

Guy Ritchie’s Hercules Remake Is Stuck in Development Hell

Disney is planning to remake Hercules as a live-action movie, hoping it will become another one of their classic stories brought to life. The project, which has been in the works since 2020, will be produced by Joe and Anthony Russo. Guy Ritchie, who directed Disney’s live-action Aladdin in 2019, signed on to direct in 2022.

Since there haven’t been many official updates on the live-action Hercules movie since 2022, it seems the project has stalled. There were reports in 2024 that Disney was planning major changes, but it now appears the movie will be a more direct remake of the original animated film.

The remake doesn’t have a cast yet, but many fans would love to see Ariana Grande as Meg. However, Grande doesn’t appear to be interested in the role, and when asked about it, she changed the subject.

Based on Disney’s latest casting choices, it seems likely that the roles of Hercules and Meg will be played by lesser-known actors, while a more famous actor will portray Hades.

The animated Hercules can be streamed on Disney+.

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2026-03-03 02:06