Summary
While I’m thrilled that Disney is givingHerculesthe live-action treatment, I’m also incredibly worried about the very real possibility of a key character being recast. Of course, details aboutDisney’s live-actionHerculesremakeare very scarce - and this extends to information about the actors who will be involved. However, the status of one actor’s career from the original animated movie makes me think that they won’t be coming back to reprise their role from 1997.
While I’d have loved a sequel to the original movie,Hercules 2was canceled in 2006. That particular project was likely my last real chance to see an actor from the 1997 animation come back to voice their character. When I found out aboutHerculesbeing adapted for live-action, my mind immediately went to one specific actor and how their comeback could actually be better than I ever anticipated. Then, after a little research, my hopes plummeted once again.
10 Best Hercules Movies, Ranked
Filmmakers have brought the legendary Hercules to life in a variety of movies, turning the Greek hero into a star of some amazing films.
James Woods' Recent Career Reduces The Chance Of His Hades Return
Wood’s acting work has almost dried up due to reasons such as his political views
While speculation continues about Danny DeVito coming back to play Phil - a character he voiced in the original movie - my focus was on James Woods and the possibility of him reprising the role of Hades. Sure, I do think that DeVito is a perfect Phil casting, and should return for the live-action remake, but that doesn’t mean Hercules' coach was the only character that Disney found the perfect actor for on the first try. Unfortunately,Woods' acting career isn’t especially booming, so his 1997 performance as Hades may remain an isolated occurrence in terms of movies.
Woods has voiced Hades in various video games, including in theKingdom Heartsfranchise. He also reprised the role in the 1998Herculesanimated TV show.
Woods has had a handful of voice roles in recent years, some of which required him to play Hades again, but he hasn’t appeared in front of the camera since his pair of appearances inDiceseason 2 back in 2017. Between 2005 and 2016,James Woods appeared as a fictionalized version of himself in eight episodes ofFamily Guy, but his career started to fall away after that.
Woods has been vocal about the fact that his political views have gradually prevented him from working in the industry.
Woods has been vocal about the fact that his far-right political views have gradually prevented him from working in the industry. For instance, in an interview withDeadline, he described his role as a producer on 2023’sOppenheimeras an “invisible pariah,” not wanting to hurt the movie’s chance of success by announcing his involvement with the Christopher Nolan project. Considering that and that his extreme views alienate a large swath of potential moviegoers,I can’t see Disney putting him in front of the camera to bring Hades to life in live-action.
James Woods' Hades Is My Favorite Part Of Disney’s Original Hercules Movie
The live-action Disney remake won’t be the same with a different Hades
Ofall the Disney villains, Hades is one of the most underrated, and I would place him as the biggest highlight of the original movie.James Woods gives his take on the God of the Underworld the perfect amount of dry sarcasmand razor-sharp snark, but he’s also capable of making the character come across as deeply intimidating when he needs to. I strongly believe the movie would be much poorer for the experience had Woods not been voicing the story’s main antagonist.
What’s perhaps the best thing about James Woods playing Hades in the 1997 movie is the fact that he managed to pull it off by essentially just using his own voice.
What’s perhaps the best thing about James Woods playing Hades in the 1997 movie is the fact that he managed to pull it off by essentially just using his own voice. He isn’t traditionally a voice actor, so impressions and alternate voices aren’t really in his wheelhouse, but that just makes the performance he was able to offer even more impressive to me. On the other hand, it could just be that his natural speaking voice is what the producers were looking for at the time. Either way,I can’t watchHerculeswithout laughing at all his brilliantly-delivered remarks.
Another Live-Action Disney Remake Gives Me Hope That Woods Will Reprise His Hercules Role
James Woods could be afforded the same opportunity as James Earl Jones
There is a precedent for Disney bringing back an actor from an animated film and allowing them to play the same character in the live-action adaption. AfterJames Earl Jones voiced Mufasa in 1994’sThe Lion King, Disney clearly realized that no other actor could replace him so perfectly, as Jones also voiced the same character in the 2019 remake. I think James Woods is as well-suited to playing Hades as James Earl Jones is to voicing Mufasa. Disney could offer the same opportunity to Woods as they did to Jones, though it’s understandable why the studio may be reluctant to do this.
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Woods' role in helping 1997’sHerculesdo so well shouldn’t be underestimated, as a story’s villain can often be the most memorable part of a movie. Plus, Woods' involvement inOppenheimer, even without being credited, shows he still has a passion for creative endeavors. If he isn’t approached about the possibility of playing Hades in live-action, whenever the newHerculesmovie begins production, it could be a waste of an opportunity.
Hercules
Cast
Hercules follows the journey of the titular character, the son of Zeus, as he embarks on a quest to prove himself a true hero after being turned mortal by Hades. Directed by John Musker and Ron Clements, the film is a blend of mythology and animation.
