Hercules fans are campaigning for Evil Dead star Bruce Campbell to play Hades in the upcoming live-action adaptation... and the actor is taking notice.
Campbell responded to a Twitter post with an edited picture of the actor as Hades next to the original animated villain. In between both images, there is a screenshot of an article titled, “Bruce Campbell Approached by Disney to Portray Hades in Live-Action Hercules Remake Directed by Guy Ritchie.” Campbell wrote, “Not sure where this inter-web rumor began, but I back it.”
The Hercules remake, directed by Guy Ritchie (Aladdin, Sherlock Holmes), is being produced by AGBO, the company helmed by Avengers: Endgame directors Anthony and Joe Russo. Dave Callahan (Shang Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings) is writing the first draft of the script, and the creative team is currently in the process of hiring more scribes.
The original animated Hercules movie, directed by Ron Clements and John Musker, was released in 1997. Tate Donovan voiced the titular hero alongside Danny DeVito as Philocetes/Phil, James Wood as Hades and Susan Egan as Megara. The story is an adaptation of the Greek myth of Hercules, the son of Zeus and Hera, who was forced to live amongst humans on earth when he was stolen by Hades, the god of the Underworld. As a young adult, the hero needs to prove that he is worthy of going to Olympus while fighting a Hydra or two along the way.
Ritchie’s most famous works include directing 2009’s Sherlock Holmes, starring Robert Downey Jr. (Iron Man) and Jude Law (Fantastic Beasts). The filmmaker also co-wrote 2019’s live-action adaptation of the 1992 animated Disney classic Aladdin and is set to direct the sequel which is scheduled to release in 2025. He's widely recognized for his work on Snatch, The Man from U.N.C.L.E and Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels.
Bruce Campbell is best known for his portrayal of Ash Williams in Sam Raimi’s Evil Dead franchise. The actor-director has also starred in low-budget cult films like 1985’s Crimewave, 1987’s Sundown: The Vampire In Retreat and 2002’s Bubba Ho-Tep. On top of his starring role in Raimi’s most coveted horror franchise, Campbell has also made cameo appearances in Raimi’s Spider-Man films and the Marvel Cinematic Universe blockbuster Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.
The live-action film adaptation of Hercules has not set a release date yet.
Source: Twitter