Hercules (franchise)
Disney franchise based on Greek hero Hercules.
Disney's Hercules franchise kicked off with the 1997 animated film of the same name, directed by Ron Clements and John Musker. That movie, an American animated action musical comedy-drama epic fantasy, was produced by Walt Disney Animation Studios and released by Walt Disney Pictures. It draws from Greek mythology, focusing on Heracles—referred to by his Roman name, Hercules—the son of Zeus.
A direct-to-video follow-up, *Hercules: Zero to Hero*, came out in 1999. It packages four episodes from the television series *Disney's Hercules: The Animated Series* into a single narrative, serving as the pilot for that show. The series itself premiered in syndication in August 1998 and on Disney's One Saturday Morning the following month, running 52 syndicated episodes and 13 Saturday morning episodes. One episode, "Hercules and the Arabian Night," is a crossover with characters from *Aladdin*. The franchise also appeared in the series *House of Mouse*, which aired from 2001 to 2003.
On the live-action side, an alternate version of Hades appeared in the fifth season of *Once Upon a Time*, played by Greg Germann. That same season featured alternate versions of Hercules and Megara, portrayed by Jonathan Whitesell and Kacey Rohl. A live-action remake of the original film has been in development since April 2020, with Jeffery Silver, Karen Gilchrist, Joe Russo, and Anthony Russo producing, and David Callaham writing the script. Guy Ritchie signed on to direct in June 2022. Joe Russo has described it as a modern spin on the original, inspired by TikTok as a musical. By 2025, the project faced creative struggles: the Russo Brothers wanted the story to center on Hades, while Disney preferred a more faithful adaptation after backlash to the TikTok-inspired tone.
Several video games tie into the franchise. *Disney's Hercules: Action Game* was released for PlayStation and PC in June 1997, made in the week before the animated film. *Disney's Animated Storybook: Hercules* and *Disney's Hercules Print Studio* are part of their respective series. *Hades Challenge*, a first-person adventure/puzzle game spinoff, came out in April 1998. The characters appear in the *Kingdom Hearts* series, most often in the recurring world "Olympus Coliseum," which features original plots rather than following the film's story. This world appears in nearly every *Kingdom Hearts* entry except *Dream
- First release
- 1997
- Medium
- Film series, television series, video games, stage musicals
- Notable directors
- Ron Clements, John Musker, Guy Ritchie
- Notable composers
- Alan Menken
- Based on
- Greek mythology hero Heracles
- Production company
- Walt Disney Pictures, Walt Disney Animation Studios
Lore & Background
The franchise began with the 1997 animated feature Hercules, an American animated action musical comedy-drama epic fantasy film produced by Walt Disney Animation Studios and released by Walt Disney Pictures. A direct-to-video followup, Hercules: Zero to Hero, was released in 1999, packaging four episodes of the television series Hercules: The Animated Series, which premiered in syndication in 1998. The franchise also includes a live-action remake announced in 2020, with Joe and Anthony Russo producing and Guy Ritchie set to direct; as of 2025, the film was undergoing creative struggles between the Russo Brothers' focus on Hades and Disney's desire for a more faithful adaptation.
Reader's Guide
The Hercules franchise is significant as a Disney media franchise that expanded from a single animated film into television series, video games, stage musicals, and a planned live-action remake. The animated film was part of the Disney Renaissance, with music by Alan Menken and lyrics by David Zippel. The franchise's characters appear in the Kingdom Hearts video game series, making it the most represented Disney franchise in that series, appearing in nearly every entry. The franchise also inspired a theatrical adaptation at the Delacorte Theater in 2019 and a show on Disney Cruise Line. The live-action remake, announced in 2020, reflects ongoing tensions between creative visions and audience expectations, highlighting the franchise's enduring cultural relevance.
Did You Know?
- The franchise includes a crossover episode of Hercules: The Animated Series featuring characters from Aladdin.
- The video game Disney's Hercules: Action Game was made in one week before the animated movie released in 1997.
- The live-action remake was announced in April 2020, with Guy Ritchie signing on to direct in June 2022.
- The franchise is the most represented Disney franchise in the Kingdom Hearts series, appearing in nearly every entry.
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