Susan Egan knows exactly who she wants to play Megara in Disney’s live-action remake of Hercules.
The actress, who voiced Meg in the studio’s 1997 animated film, has nominated Zendaya to inherit the role. She also believes Tom Holland would be a natural choice to play the legendary Greek hero opposite his real-life wife.
Susan Egan – Toon’d In with Jim Cummings, YouTube
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Speaking with Deadline at D23, Egan enthusiastically endorsed the pairing.
“I feel like the world needs it,” she said.
Would Zendaya and Tom Holland Be Right for the Roles?
Egan praised Zendaya’s evolution from a young Disney Channel performer into an Emmy-winning actress and global movie star. She also argued that Zendaya possesses the qualities necessary to portray the famously cynical heroine.
“She is a strong woman, obviously, statuesque and amazing, with an incredible voice and a little edge, don’t you think?” She said.
After selecting Zendaya, Egan suggested that Holland should join her as Hercules. She acknowledged that the recently married couple might be “filing for the restraining order right now” after hearing her persistent campaign.
Tom Holland and Zendaya on the Graham Norton Show – YouTube, BBC
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Holland and Zendaya are best known for playing Peter Parker and MJ in the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s Spider-Man films. Their established chemistry could make them an attractive pairing for Disney, particularly in a musical centered on the developing romance between its two leads. Both also have experience performing in musicals.
On paper, placing two of Hollywood’s most bankable stars—and a real-life couple—together on screen may make sense. While Zendaya could arguably be a good fit for a live-action Megara, casting Holland as Hercules may be a more difficult proposition. The athletic actor would appear slight compared with stars such as Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson and Kevin Sorbo, who have also portrayed the mythic muscleman.
Is Disney’s Live-Action Hercules Still Happening?
Disney’s remake has remained in development for several years without receiving a release date or confirmed cast.
The studio originally hired Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings writer Dave Callaham to prepare a screenplay. In 2022, Deadline reported that Aladdin filmmaker Guy Ritchie had signed on to direct, with Avengers: Endgame directors Joe and Anthony Russo producing through their AGBO banner.
Updates have been infrequent since then, leaving the remake’s current status uncertain. This summer’s live-action Moana was a major box office disappointment, potentially giving Disney another reason to reconsider its reliance on remakes of animated properties.
The Rock as Maui in the live action trailer for Moana – YouTube, Disney
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However, during the company’s most recent quarterly earnings call, Disney CEO Josh D’Amaro insisted that even when franchise films underperform, “investments in these core properties fuel other parts of our company.”
Holland and Zendaya Are Already Tackling Greek Mythology
If Egan’s dream cast for a live-action Hercules came to fruition, it would not be the first time Holland and Zendaya tackled a Greek myth. Both appear in Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey, although their characters reportedly do not share any scenes.
That film received some criticism for assembling a diverse cast that featured few, if any, actors of Greek heritage. Disney may be reluctant to revive that debate with another high-profile adaptation of Greek mythology.
Neither Holland nor Zendaya is officially connected to Hercules.
Whether Disney could secure two of Hollywood’s busiest stars is another question. Still, if the live-action remake ever escapes development, Egan is ready to see Holland and Zendaya go the distance together.
Do you want to see Tom Holland and Zendaya in a live-action Hercules movie? Sound off and let us know!
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