Avengers: Endgame directors Joe and Anthony Russo are two of Hollywood's busiest filmmakers. As well as overseeing all manner of TV shows and movies through their AGBO label, they're developing a live-action remake of Hercules for Disney based on the 1997 animated blockbuster.
Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings writer David Callaham is penning the screenplay, while it was confirmed earlier this summer that Aladdin director Guy Ritchie will helm the movie.
Doing the rounds to promote Netflix's The Gray Man, Joe and Anthony, who will produce Hercules for Disney, were asked by Games Radar what they can share about their plans for the House of Mouse's take on the iconic fantasy hero. "It will certainly pay homage to the original with a more modern spin on it," Joe teases.
"What Anthony and I love about the original is how funny and subversive it is," he continues. "I think we try to embrace that sense of humor in the remake."
Disney has found great success with its live-action remakes, and while they've come under fire for essentially being shot-for-shot remakes of their animated predecessors, those all-important box office numbers don't lie. The Lion King, for example, grossed over $1.6 billion at the worldwide box office and a prequel telling an original story is now in the works from Barry Jenkins.
You have to believe the studio sees similar franchise potential with Hercules, and if any team can make the character relevant on screen again, it's this one. Marvel Studios recently introduced its own version of the character in Thor: Love and Thunder, though we don't anticipate too many similarities!
We're intrigued by what Joe means by a "modern spin" on the story, though it's good to know the story's humorous elements will remain.
Hercules doesn't currently have a release date, but we'll be sure to keep you updated.