Disney's "Hercules" Live-Action Remake: Fan Cast

15 Actors (plus 1 vocalist) who would be perfect fits for the cats of the new live-action "Hercules" remake by Disney.

Hercules has always been my favorite Disney movie ever since the first time I watched it, and it always will be. So, you can imagine my excitement over the news that a live-action remake of the film is in the works with the Russo Brothers directing.

It may be irrelevant, but I had to do my fan cast for the film. It was a tough process, considering how picky and selective I am over who will be playing these characters. Each of them has certain traits that must be portrayed correctly, so each selection has been well thought out.

At the same time, this is not to say that other actors wouldn’t do these roles justice. I’m someone who emphasizes watching a film first before reaching a final judgment on anyone. I’m sure there are plenty of actors who would do very well playing the characters in “Hercules”, whether they’re household names or up-and-coming talents. I also would love to have as many Greek actors and actresses involved in this film as possible, and I certainly looked through lists of performers with Greek backgrounds first before considering others. However, getting the right person to play the role perfectly is priority #1.

Also, my wife Mary helped a lot with this as well. She deserves credit for a good amount of these selections.

So here it is; my fan cast for the live-action remake of Disney’s “Hercules”!

Calliope: Alicia Keys

The Muses are all very important to the film. That goes double for Calliope, the Muse of epic tales who is often narrating important parts of the story. The actress playing Calliope not only needs to be an inspiring singer but a storyteller.

Alicia Keys is someone who needs no introduction as her talents as a musician, vocalist, and overall artist are well-known. And while she may not have the most powerful voice out of the other actresses I’ve cast, what separates her from the bunch is her ability to tell stories and speak to her audience when she performs. That’s what makes her a great fit for the role of Calliope.

Melpomene: Jennifer Hudson

As the Muse of tragedy, Jennifer Hudson’s powerful voice and the way she performs translates to this role. There’s so much emotion in the way she sings. That ability can capture the dramatic and “tragic” moments of the film, such as when Hercules loses part of his god-hood.

Clio: Keke Palmer

Clio is the Muse of history and therefore she needs to be able to tell a story to the audience through music, much like Calliope does. Keke Palmer is often described as an “old soul” who maturely carries herself. Yet, she knows how to be very animated and soulful in her way of story-telling, which would distinguish her from Alicia Keys/Calliope.

I had considered Keke Palmer as one of the Muses for weeks. But when I saw her perform “Zero to Hero” during the Disney Family Singalong: Volume II, I was completely sold.

Terpsichore: Janelle Monae

Terpsichore is a fun character because she’s the Muse of dance. Janelle Monae has always been a supremely talented actress and artist, and she has the dancing acumen to bring Terpsichore to life. Monae is such a fun and artistic performer in whatever she does, and that’s what I want for the role of Terpsichore.

Thalia: Lizzo

Thalia is the Muse of comedy. She’s not only the most entertaining and funny of them all, but she also has such a powerful voice that fits her personality. Anyone who has seen any of Lizzo’s music videos and heard her sing knows that she isn’t afraid of being bold and humorous. Her voice is also very animated and powerful, similar to the way Thalia’s is. That will make her stand out in the same way as Thalia.

Zeus: Dwayne Johnson 

Casting Zeus and Hera were both the toughest to cast out of all the characters. A lot of times when I’ve seen other fan casts, they just look for an actor who has a big and muscular body type with a deep and overpowering voice. But that alone isn’t enough. Disney’s version of Zeus is often seen smiling and goofing around, cracking “dad jokes” and just having a fun time. He doesn’t take himself too seriously, but he also means business when the time calls for it. I considered guys like Jeff Bridges and Josh Brolin, but Dwayne Johnson fits the bill all too well. His physique and fighting resume go without saying, but he’s also almost always smiling and being friendly. And we all know from his wrestling days that Johnson can be hilarious when in the spotlight.

Is he Greek? No. But as one of my friends, who is Greek, said to me when I brought up the idea, “For The Rock, an exception can certainly be made.”

Hera: Charlize Theron

As mentioned earlier, casting Hera was very tough. I went through so many actresses and came away with a ton of names that I liked. But after spending a lot of time going back and forth between several of them, Mary and I decided on Charlize Theron. Everyone already knows how amazing of an actress she is. She’s played so many different types of roles, so there’s no doubt in my mind she would do amazingly well as Hera. While Zeus has such a loud, dominating, and somewhat goofy personality, Hera complements him perfectly. She’s quieter, reserved, poised, and soothing… and yet, still in a powerful way. With every great man, there is an even greater woman behind him, and Theron exudes that type of aura when she performs.

For what it’s worth, the other names that we narrowed it down to were Nicole Kidman and Greek actress Jamie-Lynn Sigler.

Hades: Tom Hiddleston

I’ve seen some good suggestions for Hades, but Tom Hiddleston just checks off all the boxes for me. Hades may be the god of the underworld, but his character is a fast-talking, quick-witted, and entertaining character that serves as a dynamic antagonist for the film. The actor playing the role has to have the rage and anger that Hades possesses, but also the personality range to be comedic and likable at the same time. And if there’s anything that Hiddleston has shown in his portrayal of Loki in the MCU, it’s that he can play a very likable villain.

Pain & Panic: Jordan Peele & Keegan Michael-Key

The comedic chemistry and type of humor this duo has together is too perfect of a fit for Pain & Panic. There’s not much explaining we need for the personality traits of each of these two characters; Pain often experiences pain, while Panic often finds himself panicking. It’s so easy to close my eyes and hear both Peele and Michael-Key imitating the voices of this trouble-making tandem. And can you imagine all the unscripted comedic gold we could get from these two?

Amphitryon & Alcmene: Elias Koteas & Rita Wilson

Koteas & Wilson are both Greek actors who have the look and demeanor I’m searching for when it comes to playing Hercules’ human parents. Koteas can portray the old and wise father who is always trying to protect his son. Wilson can portray the sweet and loving mother who is grateful every single day for being given the gift of her son.

I did also see a video that suggested John Stamos and Susan Egan for the roles of Amphitryon and Alcmene, and I loved that idea as well.

I do anticipate that both characters will have more of a role in the live-action remake.

Philoctetes: Danny DeVito

This was a given. DeVito reprising his role as Phil is almost mandatory.

Megara: Elizabeth Gillies

Mary and I came across Elizabeth Gillies’ name almost immediately after we heard the news that a Hercules live-action remake was in the works. Even though we considered other actresses for the role, no one fit more than Gillies. She has the perfect amount of sassiness to her. She can portray someone strong and independent while still showing glimpses of heartbreak and vulnerability. Gillies also has the look of Meg. She’s attractive but can also give that “I’m no damsel in distress” look. She has the smirk and attitude down perfectly already. And last, but certainly not least, she has a beautiful singing voice. Meg’s song “I Won’t Say I’m In Love” is arguably the fan-favorite number of the whole soundtrack, and there’s no doubt in my mind Gillies would do it justice.

Hercules: Brenton Thwaites 

Finally, the titular character role goes to an under-the-radar actor I’ve been a fan of for a good while, Brenton Thwaites. He’s mostly known for his recent role as Dick Grayson in DC’s “Titans” series, as well as lead roles in “The Giver” and “Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales”. It was a close call between Thwaites and Greek actor Theo James, who would also be an outstanding fit for the role.

Most people have been looking for an actor with a muscular build to play the role of the hero with godly strength. But there’s more to the character than just that. It’s important to remember that when Hercules was younger and before he underwent his training with Phil, he was considered an outcast by the people in his hometown village. He didn’t know how to control his strength and was very clumsy, often destroying almost anything he came across. That Hercules was a kid who was emotionally lost, looking for a way to fit in and be like everyone else. That characteristic is what drives Hercules’ arc throughout the film. His ultimate goal of being a hero is driven by his desire to go home to Mount Olympus. To play the role of Hercules, the actor must not only play the “hero” part but the “zero” part as well.

When you first get a glimpse of Thwaites, he may not look like much, but that’s sort of the point. Hercules isn’t supposed to look like much at first either. It’s the transformation that’s important, and Thwaites has shown the ability to do that. He has that “boyish” demeanor about him that can pull off the younger Hercules, but he’s shown that adding muscle to his frame for an action role is nothing new to him. And if you watch him as Dick Grayson aka Robin, there won’t be any doubt that he can be the protagonist and hero of this film.

"Go The Distance" (End Title): Brian McKnight

Not only is "Hercules" my favorite Disney film ever, but its theme song "Go The Distance" is my favorite Disney song ever as well. It's amazingly inspirational and I even used the last few lines when I proposed to Mary at Disney World's Polynesian Resort. So, needless to say, it's a song that means a lot to me.

I would love nothing more than to have Brian McKnight do the new rendition of "Go The Distance." I've always viewed him as one of, if not the most, talented male vocalist I've ever listened to. To do the song justice, just as Michael Bolton did with the original, you need someone with a powerful and uplifting voice; someone who can bring the emotion of the song to life. Brian McKnight is one of the very few vocalists I have full confidence to do so.