The *Perfect* Actors to Play Hercules, Megara & More in the Live-Action Adaptation

Zane Phillips as Hercules

Glamorous and Fire Island actor Zane Phillips has emerged as one of the fan favorites for the leading role, particularly since Phillips himself confirmed he not only has a musical theater background, but he actually performed “Go The Distance” from Hercules at a cabaret once. Need we say more?

“You know what? I’m really flattered,” the Fire Island star told TooFab about the speculation. “It’s really such an honor that people are passionate about seeing, I don’t know, someone like me take on something like that. I have to stop sometimes and be like, ‘There’s a lot of people who are rooting for you’ and I feel that and I see it and I’m like trying to internalize it.”

Jokes aside, Phillips confirmed he would love to play Hercules. “Yeah, I mean, who wouldn’t? Who wouldn’t?”

Dua Lipa as Megara

Once you think about it it’s hard to get it out of your head, so it’s reports that Dua Lipa is one of Disney’s frontrunners for the main role of Megara in Hercules should come as a surprise to no one. Fans seem pretty on board with the idea too, because not only does she have the look to play the character, she’s can also nail the acting parts as well. In fact, has there ever been a more perfect Megara?

Taika Waititi as Hades

Waititi has played a lot of odd roles, and Hades is one of those characters that seems very much suited for Waititi’s brand of comedy. Combine that with Guy Ritchie’s directing style and Hades might end up being one of the most iconic versions of the character ever.

Danny DeVito as Phil

There’s really no other choice here. DeVito voiced Phil in the 1997 film and was a major inspiration for the character design in the first place. Phil, a satyr who trains aspiring heroes, is an important character in Hercules’ journey, and DeVito has talked openly about being interested in reprising the role.

In an interview with WIRED, DeVito joked, “I am the live-action Hercules. If they don’t put me in that, they don’t have a hair on their a**”.

Jeffrey Dean Morgan as Zeus

Jeffrey Dean Morgan has played a complex father figure before, so he’d be perfect for Hercules’ dad. And though the actor has a pretty steady gig playing Negan in The Walking Dead: Dead City, it’s not like Zeus is needed all that much. Absent fathers and all of that. He can probably make it work.

Jennifer Hudson as Calliope, the leader of the Muses

Of all the actresses fans have mentioned for the Muses, Jennifer Hudson seems to always come out at the top of the list and it’s easy to see why. She’s got the voice, she’s got the presence and she’s got the acting chops.

Stanley Tucci as Hermes

People love to fan-cast big names for smaller roles, which will probably mean we will end up being disappointed, but it’s hard to go wrong with Stanley Tucci in just about any role. Hermes is a fun one—and Tucci would bring a very different energy than Lin-Manuel Miranda brought to the same role in Percy Jackson and the Olympians.

Simon Pegg and Nick Frost as Pain and Panic

The characters go together as much as the actors do in this case. Pegg and Frost have been collaborators for a long time, and they have been heavily rumored to be the favorites to play Pain and Panic, a pair of shapeshifting imps who serve as Hades’s minions.