WHY THE LIVE-ACTION HERCULES COULD BE BETTER THAN THE ORIGINAL

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🧬 Produced by: existence.media
Are you ready to go the distance?! Bless my soul! My friend Allison is back for this Hercules sing-a-long in which we belt our little hearts out, as well as break down the entire cast of the upcoming live-action reboot. You're welcome, Hollyweird!
This is an audio commentary ONLY. It is meant to be watched along with the movie so you can raise or lower the volume on the commentary or the movie itself as you wish.
Plot (via Wiki):
In Ancient Greece, the gods Zeus and Hera have a son named Hercules. While the other gods are joyful, Zeus' wicked brother Hades plots to overthrow Zeus and rule Mount Olympus. Through the Fates, Hades learns that in eighteen years, a planetary alignment will allow him to free the Titans to conquer Olympus, but only if Hercules does not interfere. Hades sends his imp minions, Pain and Panic, to murder Hercules, providing them with a potion that can strip a god of immortality. The two kidnap the baby, take him down to the valley and feed him the potion. However, before Hercules drinks the last drop, two farmers pass nearby and startle the demons, causing them to drop the bottle. Hercules is stripped of immortality but retains his god-like strength. Pain and Panic attempt to murder the baby, but Hercules easily overpowers them. The pair decide not to report their failure to Hades.
Years later, the teenage Hercules becomes an outcast for his inability to control his strength. Wondering about his origins, he decides to visit the Temple of Zeus for answers. Once there, a statue of Zeus comes to life and reveals all to Hercules, telling him that he can earn back his godhood by becoming a "true hero." Zeus sends Hercules and his forgotten childhood friend Pegasus to the satyr Philoctetes ("Phil") who is known for training heroes. Phil has retired in frustration after none of his past students managed to earn a constellation in the sky. Zeus obliges Phil to train Hercules anyway. After completing the training, Phil and Hercules head towards Thebes. On the way, they meet Megara ("Meg"), a sarcastic damsel whom Hercules saves from the centaur Nessus. Unbeknownst to Hercules, Meg is Hades' slave and was actually trying to recruit Nessus. She had sold her soul to Hades previously to save a lover who then left her. When Meg mentions what happened, Hades realizes that Pain and Panic failed him and plots to finish off Hercules properly.
Arriving in Thebes, Hercules is met with skepticism by the locals, but then Meg appears, saying that two boys are trapped under a large rock in a gorge. Hercules lifts the rock and rescues the boys, unaware that they are Pain and Panic in disguise, and unwittingly releases the Hydra. Much to Hades's chagrin, Hercules defeats the monster and becomes a celebrated hero. Hercules defeats many other monsters, many of which are sent by Hades, and his popularity and fortune grow. However, Zeus tells him that he is not yet a "true" hero and refuses to explain what that means. Saddened and frustrated, Hercules spends a day out with Meg, who starts to fall in love with him. Hades learns of this, and on the eve of his takeover, he holds Meg hostage and offers her freedom in exchange for Hercules surrendering his powers for a day. On the condition that Meg will be unharmed, Hercules accepts and is heartbroken after learning that Meg was working for Hades all along.
Hades unleashes the Titans, who climb Olympus and defeat the gods, while the Cyclops goes to Thebes to kill Hercules. Hercules uses his wits to defeat the Cyclops. Unfortunately, during the battle, Meg is mortally injured. This breaks Hades's promise that Meg would not be harmed, so Hercules regains his strength. Hercules and Pegasus fly to Olympus, free the gods and vanquish the Titans, but Meg dies before he can return to her.
To recover Meg's soul, Hercules goes to the underworld and leaps into the River Styx. This act would be fatal for a mortal, but his willingness to sacrifice himself is a sufficiently heroic act to restore his godhood. Hercules survives, saves Meg's soul and knocks Hades into the Styx. After reviving Meg, she and Hercules are summoned to Olympus, where Zeus and Hera welcome their son home, saying that he has proved himself a "true hero" through the "strength of his heart." However, rather than join the gods there, Hercules chooses to remain on Earth with Meg. The heroes then return to Thebes, where they watch Zeus form a constellation in Hercules' honor.
#hercules #pegasass #megasus

[@studionine4587]

Not Ariana Grande for Meg, but how about her friend/ former cast mate, Liz Gillies? She can definitely do snark and she has a great voice!

[@Fallen_0nes]

Yes Ariana and Pete Davidson as Hercules. 🙌🙌

[@booktales1687]

This is my favorite fan casting🎉

[@esmeecampbell7396]

Jenna Ortega!!!

[@W1ll88]

THIIIIISSSS

[@songofstorms7]

Liz Gillies would be great for it!

[@Fruitloop398]

I like the idea of Aaron Taylor Johnston being Hercules… he does kind of look like the cartoon version

[@Kaluzaa22]

Holy shit, you're right

[@Fruitloop398]

@@Kaluzaa22 right? And he is buff enough right now too. I would just pull the iron man trick in the beginning where you get a skinny dude and plaster Aaron’s face on him. No clue if the guy can sing though… if they did do a musical.

[@annar.70]

@@Fruitloop398 He was in a band in his movie "Angus, Thongs, and Perfect Snogging" and they have a song on Spotify. I think he only sang backup for it and they mixed with the lead vocals, but I'm not sure! Either way, I think he looks the part enough that they'd just get someone else to sing for him if he couldn't do it!

[@HyperWolf]

Dude, that’s the first good one I’ve heard for Hercules. People also really seem to like Elizabeth Gillies for Megara and I can kind of see that working too. Edit: Autocorrect kept correcting Megara to Megan’s

[@user-nf9xm7is3m]

I'd love that. Recently I watched ana Karina and was telling a friend this guy is just so breathtakingly beautiful I don't understand why he didn't get more famous. He's particularly stunning with lighter colored hair.

[@heykalei]

i want phil to either be danny devito in a cheap satyr costume or just danny in his regular clothes. it's the only way i will accept that role

[@KJsGotGame]

Man-cheetah or we riot

[@SnailLordNeon]

It's going to be James Corden and we all know it.

[@MyPineappleDream]

@@SnailLordNeon NNNNNNOOOOOOOOOO

[@ihavenoname2ndaccount726]

@@SnailLordNeon You bitch- don't you dare even suggest that

[@watarukurenai7540]

@@SnailLordNeon NOOOOOOOOOOOOO

[@bardicstudio]

Y'all really went the distance with the harmonizing in that intro ✨

[@weatherbitten]

Alllison's voice is incredibleee

[@ohyeahitsthatoneguy]

It's already beautiful, animated. Live action wouldn't do this justice. There's no other Disney film that gives off this same feeling, the same warmth that this version of Hercules has. It's a classic in my books

[@colonelkenpachi5009]

I agree with you 100% they just wouldn't be able to capture the magic.

[@littlesparrow303]

Especially since they want it to be inspired by TikTok for the songs

[@drew2510]

@@littlesparrow303 what now

[@Bensonders]

Yeah.. in general I love animation and I always feel like remaking animated movies into life action somewhat ilegitimizes the original, the art and craftsmanship and all the creative freedom that painted pictures can have, like its only a "real" movie when its with real actors, not just voice actors. Hand drawn animation is timeless, they could just rerelease the movies and it would work fine. And the real life remakes rarely added anything positive to the animated versions.

[@IcyLightning00]

Not history books, but books nonetheless

[@cameronwinick]

I will literally not accept any other casting for Hades besides Bob Odenkirk like COME ON IT'S SO OBVIOUS

[@milkflavored]

Holy shit your mind ✨

[@zoidbergmaybe]

bruh true, he’d be incredible. live action disney movies, prepare for dissapointment

[@AndreoliAndroid]

That’s amazing! Never thought of him.

[@TheSindustriesLtd]

FUCK yes, this is IT

[@thegoldenmolar]

better call hades

[@PandaHug11]

People are sleeping on the concept of the live action Hunchback of Notre Dame. It’s the only one I can think of that was brought down by the more cartoonish parts. It would lend itself really well for live action, plus they can add some of the stuff from the stage musical.

[@creed8712]

If I wanted a live action version I’d watch the stage play. Personally I’d want them to do Emperors new groove but everyone’s in Mayan face

[@JosieFawkes]

That's what I've been saying! I want a live action version so bad.

[@nightstar6179]

OH MY GOSH YES

[@heavenlyusurper]

If it got a live action remake that toned down the cartoonish gargoyle bits (but keep the one super important line from them I can’t quote without butchering), keep the more morbid tone and absolutely NAIL the villain and Hellfire? I’d probably watch that idk

[@heavenlyusurper]

@@creed8712 i had gag reflex reading your comment 😢

[@icequeen050]

If Liz Gillies isn't meg ill riot. She's got the voice, looks, and attitude to do it perfectly

[@_inSight__]

It's not attitude, it is bored tactfulness

[@Hiphop618]

I kind of like the idea of Willam Dafoe as Hades. His portrayal as Ryuk was the only decent part of that terrible live action Netflix Death Note

[@SteveoMcCartney]

I was just thinking he’d be perfect!

[@charliesnark6535]

Omg yesssssss pls that's the only way I'd watch the live action remake

[@jamj4r]

"Zeus?" "Zeus is on sabbatical, honeyy."

[@MysterySteve]

'I Won't Say I'm In Love' gets stuck in my head on a regular basis whenever the topic of romance comes up. It's just so good

[@haslamwelsh]

i always felt like the only live action version of this that would do it justice would be broadway… i just wanna see the muses on stage please 😭

[@charley15z17]

Aubrey Plaza is literally how I would imagine Meg in live action. Can't believe I didn't think of it before.

[@brytonup1551]

The chick who played Meg on supernatural has the same voice as this Meg i stg

[@yaboiitito]

@@brytonup1551 def the same attitude. I can see it

[@Justhppy2behere]

@@brytonup1551 the woman* it’s really not that hard to let go of underlying misogyny in your vocabulary. her name is rachel miner btw and yes she has a deep voice, but she also struggles with mobility issues. I’d love to see her in the role, but I don’t think disney is ready to put in the effort for a disabled lead quite yet.

[@brytonup1551]

@@Justhppy2behere is she disabled? Didn’t know that I coulda I sworn she did an action scene or two in supernatural

[@fionn_mac_ribs]

@@Justhppy2behere casually calling a woman “chick” is misogynistic?

[@KittiyKyat]

Middleditch and Schwartz as Pain and Panic is GENIUS

[@sammybear7100]

Fun fact: they originally wanted the Spice Girls to be the Muses but there were scheduling issues. As a fan of them that would have been awesome but I still love the way it turned out!

[@tayam.5555]

It's been over a month since this was posted and I have to say I cannot stop thiking of Aaron Taylor Johnson as Hercules... it's just too perfect

[@BreeNichole1993]

The singing was fire!!!! Eric and Allison great job guys!!!Y’all sounded so great harmonizing together❤❤❤

[@caliban5505]

I think another good choice for Meg would be Cristin Milioti from Palm Springs. She could nail the sass/attitude, and she has singing chops (she was in Once on Broadway)

[@angelita98gaby]

omg i LOVE her!! She could nail it

[@esmeecampbell7396]

Cristin is a fucking banger choice mate. Or Jenna Ortega. Personally I'd put Alan Tudyck in as Hades.

[@PizzaHutCEO]

Ooh that’s a great pick

[@user-nf9xm7is3m]

Wow I like this suggestion cause their facial features are even similar

[@PizzaHutCEO]

Not to mention she played bass at Maria Hill’s wedding, which is a total Meg move

[@McBehrer]

This was like my FAVORITE movie as a kid, so it was really funny to me hearing him keep going "wait I don't remember this!" about, like, major plot points that I have memorized front to back. Although, I will admit, I really didn't remember the Female Pegasus bit. It's totally a My Little Pony reference, though, it's even got a cutie mark

[@boboblueblue2]

Aaron Taylor Johnson is SUCH a good choice for Hercules. Omfg that’s PERFECT and I’ve never thought of that before!

[@MovieManMark]

Am I high or is Allison an amazing singer?

[@lucyeatsalot]

You are not alone!!!! She has a voice on her

[@Hiphop618]

I thought the same thing!

[@syra1541]

alice actually has such a nice voice woah

[@milkflavored]

Honestly this has the best live action potential bc no one expects anything from it. It was underrated in ‘97, so it’d be underrated now - perfect time to blow everyone out of the water

[@KingOfGaymes]

People love Hercules to this day, how would it be underrated? Back then it was new which is why it was underrated then..

[@jasmingault4901]

“Zendaya is already on the Disney payroll for Spider-Man” I’m 100% ok with erasing Shake it Up, if y’all are

[@RisingJay]

& KC undercover or whatever it was lol

[@R34G4N]

WAIT allison has a drop dead gorgeous voice 😭

[@guajolotl880]

Bro, Willem Dafoe as Hades would be sick

[@hcf4kd1992]

The part at the end where they finally say "that's Phil's boy" has me weeping reliably every time

[@brendanryan5980]

Now I need you guys to do full covers of these songs cause both you have great voices

[@sammybear7100]

Dude I've seen this movie a million times and I just got the joke when Hades said "it's a small underworld after all." Hilarious!!

[@CreepinClipd]

I reckon Natalie Dormer could do an excellent Meg! She's got the sass and snark for sure

[@ramentried]

Can we just take a sec to talk about Allison's runs in I Won’t Say (I’m In Love)? HEAVENLY

[@GrimmBones]

Honestly, this will always be the most badass Disney movie to me, cause there's something extremely cool about Herc going into, what I'm guessing is, River Styx, and pulling Meg's soul out of it, and just casually walking out. Fucking love it.

[@trinitybair7516]

that harmony at the beginning was beautiful

[@anditspaganpoetry]

Personally, I think that I should be cast to play Meg. But that's just me. Favorite Disney movie, the best soundtrack! If they do a live-action they need to keep the opening song, it pumps me up so much.

[@cupofteeth]

y’all killed that first song i can’t even lie that was genuinely really good

[@CollinsProductions116]

Okay for pain and misery you gotta go with Key and Peele. Like the only duo that can bounce off each other perfectly and have the same comedic timing!

[@_inSight__]

I don't think any mainstream actress is the right pick for Meg. It has to be spot on, not close enough. She's one of the most unique Disney princess ever created, and deserves to be accurate.

[@carrotlime]

totally agree!

[@dylandinosaur10]

10:23 funniest moment in the whole video. A bunch of weird sighs and the look on both Hercules and Eric's face, a laughed for a full 7 minutes 😆🤣

[@paradereigner]

Love the commentary. This is one of my favorite Disney movies. Underrated if you ask me. Sang Go The Distance at my High School Graduation 🎓

[@dave0001100]

My favorite Disney film hands down. It basically the plot of the Christopher Reeve Superman with some elements of Rocky thrown in for flavor!

[@kellyb4]

That intro brought a tear to my eye.

[@aidanrutter257]

So, this is one of my favorite Disney movies ever. Go the Distance is by far my favorite non-villain song in Disney's catalog. However, when I watch this I have to ignore a lot of what I know about Greek Mythology. Oddly enough, I think this would be fantastic Superman movie.

[@brennazajkowski8106]

I love when you two do commentaries together, it’s too funny! This was great!

[@ColdDaveball]

Just watching the first one and a half minutes of the video: There is something so magical and rapturous about animated movie musicals! Thank you, Howard Ashman, for revolutionizing the genre at Disney in the late 80s!

[@TheFreakboy48]

Jesus how do you know when I’m on a PMI binge? Unbelievable timing

[@Varmit_]

Lord what are you doing here?

[@newname34695]

same???!

[@trailblazer225]

That's my secret captain... I'm always on a PMI binge

[@forthefrogs]

PAIN AND PANIC BEING MIDDLEDITCH AND SCHWARTZ?? ICONIC

[@ah.haveagoodday6034]

god i had to paus a bunch to recover because HOLLY SHIT Allison has such a gorgeous voice!!! honestly gave me chills

[@mariac1984]

tell allison to post a full cover of wont say im in love bc omg

[@miscellaneouslife2778]

Jasmine in the hourglass was my first “don’t ask me the color of anything” moment. I remember so little from that movie, but I sure remember that.

[@NewAzn]

This isn’t necessarily my favorite Disney movie, but there’s something I loved about it so intensely as a kid. Live-action Hercules are just never as good and idk if even Disney would be able to recreate this magic tbh. This was the whole package.

[@waterwaveybaby]

This has always been my favourite Disney movie and no matter how good a live action movie is, I just don't think it could capture how much fun and colour the original has. It's a shame they never made a sequel because this is one of the few animated Disney movies that feels like you could carry on the story with

[@greenfox42]

8:00 the Scar pelt has the actual SCAR over his left eye to confirm it is a legit nod to The Lion King’s Scar

[@teaganclark8235]

Y'all are wrong, Taron Egerton as Hercules, Liz Gillies as Meg, Nick Kroll and John Mulaney as pain and panic

[@bifieri]

i literally was in the middle of typing what about thomas middleditch and ben schwartz as pain and panic when eric said it lmaooo

[@CHotell96]

Jack Black would be a good and funny replacement if they don't want Devito back

[@antoinefougere-ramsamooj1907]

Hey all! Who would love to see Pretty Much It do a commentary on the Martian? They mentioned it on one of their other episodes, and I think it's the perfect movie for the show. Love the work, as always.

[@matthewevans5758]

Only if it’s with miles!

[@manleeman5212]

Holy shit alison killin that harmony i never knew i needed.

[@leighgasp]

Thomas Middleditch and Ben Schwartz is the absolute perfect casting oh my god

[@luisalonsoecheverria]

Hercules - Aaron Taylor Johnson Meg - Liz Gilles Phil - Danny Devito Hades - John Lithgow (as payback from getting the original role stolen by James Woods) Pain & Panic - Key & Peele Zeus - Kurt Russell Hera - Susan Egan The Muses - Beyoncé, Ariana Grande, H.E.R., Alicia Keys, and Lizzo

[@jerrythemagicalllama]

Not that I think anyone will care or think that I'm telling the truth, but my grandfather Hal Holbrook plays Hercules' human father (the old farmer man, I forget his name).

[@PrettyMuchIt]

thats so cool!

[@allisonmizer]

LOVE

[@jaytheghoul1245]

PLEASE make them Thomas and Ben, oh my god I’d die

[@torig8785]

sidenote Allison's voice is amazing. Also, Liz Gilles from Victorious is one of the top contenders for fan casts and I think she would nail it.;

[@crankydeer7489]

You guys popped off in the opening and I love it

[@belakitu8331]

Love the genuine reactions from the parts you didn't remember, that made my day

[@harley-gwen6193]

I honestly think Stephanie Beatriz could pull off Meg in live action.

[@carronline1]

what im hoping for in the live action is they do a 1 for 1 remake of the cartoon but then when hercules brings meg back, she just turns into a full on zombie and the last quarter of the movie is just hercules fighting zombies

[@SAMHPWRTH]

Go the distance is hands down the best Disney song ever written

[@tsemiu]

The girl commentating has beautiful singing voice!

[@alexlazzerly3677]

RDJ as Hades in live action. I think he'd be great.

[@charley15z]

I could actually see this happening. He's worked with both Guy Ritchie and the Russos too.

[@trop3848]

The BACKGROUNDS in Hercules are so fucking good.

[@ethanber]

twercules twerk-a-long

[@asantepauwels]

Whatching this really makes me wish i could sing. I love this movie and no matter how hard i try, i sond like danny devito singing

[@kobycorunna5397]

MEG AND MOTHER GOTHEL FROM TANGLED ARE THE ONLY TWO CHARACTERS IN ALL OF DISNEY TO CALL SOMEONE “Ya big Lug” and the theory goes that the sunflower that Rupunzel gets her Powers from came from the same drop of sunlight from the sky 🌌 HERCULES. Hercules is the drop of sunlight that left that powerful flower in the place of he’s landing and that’s not even half the theory covered. Meg is Mother GOTHEL!!!!!!

[@sarbo2335]

I can't unhear Oneyplay's "Herculad" rendition of Feel like I belong

[@jerryfromtheblock6463]

if devito cant make it, Stavros Halkias might make a decent replacement, aesthetically and in terms of the animal-like funny-guy behavior. Also hes greek (woke score +1) And at this point a major movie role might be the only way he can still win the break-up

[@amarawiley4809]

I really wasn't expecting this crossover

[@abbiedowling4503]

other film students dreams :win an oscar mine: have eric react to one of my future movies

[@abbiedowling4503]

a true dream

[@TheFirstDrinker]

Not zendaya Eric gonna have disagree wit you

[@GreaserMan]

Yeah, she would be terrible.

[@Anthonycheesman33]

@@GreaserMan why

[@freyamary2072]

Hercules - Aaron Taylor-Johnson Meg - Liz Gillies Hades - Bill Hader

[@samuru101]

If they made a liveaction Princess and the frog movie it could be the best one, since it's more realistic to begin with.

[@KingOfGaymes]

What about the whole dancing and talking frog parts though? That’s how the main characters are most of the movie and I don’t want to see “live action” CG frogs 😭

[@dtanobo]

Aaron Taylor Johnson is actually the perfect choice for Hercules Even though I wouldnt even watch it lmao

[@millsrome]

Sad that he would have been perfect for the role because Hercules is supposed to be 18 and Meg is nearly 30 and that's around the same age diference between him and his groomer wife. I think he's too old to play him now, in a few years the Heartstopper kid would've been perfect, he looks the part!

[@verylostdoommarauder]

The only thing that would make the live action remake anything resembling good is they should have Hades played by the guy who played Hades in the game Hades. The idea of Supergiant's Hades reading all of Disney's Hades lines in the same voice with the same tone is hilarious.

[@Nuhtalley]

i think liz gillies would make a good meg as well

[@americachavez2846]

Zendaya as Meg tho ❣️🤯🤩

[@christianseaton6032]

you see kick ass in the Hercules movie ," FUCK YOU MR. BITEY!!!"

[@CloudKittee]

Ok but I’m not gonna act like your costar was not NAILING those notes during “I Won’t Say I’m In Love” cuz I definitely noticed, beautiful voice!

[@GeorgeHarold1]

Eric freaking out about "What are those?" SENT me

[@ColtNomad]

Eric, how can you try to fan cast for the live action while Allison is killing the Meg song right next to you?

[@forthefrogs]

"that's josh gad let's be honest" in such resigned defeat has no right to be that funny lmao

[@atombombdolphin96]

This single frame 4:17 after what he said killed me😂😂😂her reaction is great

[@Two-Man-Production]

Something about Scar to note: He is worn like the Lion that Hercules killed with his bare hands because it’s hide was impervious to any attack. Which means Scar has a hide that is impervious to any attack.

[@eleanorrhiannon]

Sorry the HARMONIES?! beauty for my ears

[@wolfman-up7dh]

Lake Bell for Megara. Also, for Pain and Panic, my first thought is Bobby Moynihan and Bill Hader.

[@sinceyouasked394]

all your words are good

[@sophiagoodman-merel7453]

Elizabeth gillies has my vote for live action Meg

[@aniahmatthews936]

I can’t believe I didn’t see this two days ago when I also watched Hercules!

[@TomTheMovieGuy]

just found this channel after watching the avatar video, best channel on youtube haha

[@PrettyMuchIt]

thanks tom!

[@cupid7536]

the harmonies at the start were incredible

[@maxholder1395]

I have quite litteraly cut this video for just the "i wont say it" to have in my playlist for alissons beautiful harmonies OH MY GAWDDDD

[@Good_Comms]

Aubrey Plaza is a good shout for Meg

[@TheBassicBassist]

Damn y'all can sing. I loved that. Do it again but more

[@tylrtrnr]

this gives such strong drunk disney vibes and i love it

[@MorganRichards2000]

I can't wait for the Emperor's New Groove live-action remake.