Disney live-action remakes have often been criticized for being exact copies of the original films, putting in barely anything unique to stand out beyond nostalgia. Fortunately, Avengers Endgame directors Joe and Anthony Russo laid fears of this mentality to rest, as they announced that the upcoming remake of Hercules they are producing, will differ greatly from the original animated film.
The Russo Brothers expressed that they have to bring something new to this retelling of a Disney classic because according to them, “it’s not compelling for us to do a literal translation.” They compared their technique to many of the Marvel movies they’ve made over the years, stating “We don’t do literal translations of the comics because we feel like if you want that story you can go read that story.”
The Russos also reassured fans who might have that fear that they will add in some new elements that weren’t included in the original film. This is mainly due to the two of them being such big fans of the original Hercules, with Joe Russo claiming that “Both us and our kids are Hercules fanatics. And we had heard that Disney was interested in revisiting it and we’re in love with the original.”
This boosts fairly promising for Disney fans, as the better live-action remakes tend to be the ones that borrow elements of the original film while doing their own thing. It proved successful for the 2016 Jungle Book remake by Jon Favreau, and some have claimed that the upcoming Mulan remake will do the same. Considering the talent behind this film, hopefully Hercules will be more than just a weaker retread of the original film.