How Disney’s Hercules Turned An Unofficial Superman Adaptation & Arguably The Greatest One [Opinion]

James Gunn’s DCU flagship Superman has taken off, resonating profoundly with audiences and critics alike, reinvigorating hope for the Man of Metal’s cinematic future.

In the meantime, rival studio Disney perpetuates hemorrhaging income by way of consecutive failures throughout their superhero productions, animation ventures, and relentless remakes.

Nonetheless, buried inside Disney’s catalog exists a beloved musical that paradoxically represents the quintessential Superman adaptation and true essence of traditional Disney Renaissance concurrently, regardless of by no means acknowledging its comedian guide origins.

hercules (1997) pic.twitter.com/OCR6KDNlye

— cinesthetic. (@TheCinesthetic) July 6, 2025

Not Marvel, Hercules is Disney’s Actual Response to Superman

The 1997 animated musical Hercules has been identified to be functioning as an inadvertent Superman rendition — one so meticulously contrived that it leaves behind most official makes an attempt at bringing the Man of Metal to display screen, occupying the identical pedestal because the 1978 Christopher Reeve-starrer.

The commonalities attributed to each characters’ mythologies are sufficiently complete that dismissing them as coincidental turns into intellectually dishonest.

“I Received’t Say (I’m in Love)” from Hercules, carried out by Susan Egan as Megara, is now licensed 2x Platinum by the RIAA for two million models offered within the U.S. The 1997 observe stays a standout Disney anthem of reluctant love. pic.twitter.com/UAvekyexLU

— Eric Alper 🎧 (@ThatEricAlper) July 8, 2025

Two Tales of Legendary Infants Fostered by Earthlings to Counter Inside and Exterior Threats

Hercules’ plot borrowed from Superman is conspicuous, to place it mildly. Each protagonists start their journeys as infants born to distant, otherworldly beings (Jor-El and Zeus, respectively). When a ruthless villain (Normal Zod and Hades, respectively) assaults their dwelling, the infants are reoriented to Earth and found by form, childless farmers who present nurturing upbringings.

From their earliest years, every character possesses extraordinary power which eventuate profound emotions of alienation and desideratum for his or her place within the exterior world. This inside battle, together with their superhuman skills, takes the position of their proponent and the emotional core of their hero’s journeys to avoid wasting the world.

The eponymous heroes go away their adoptive properties to search out solutions and goal. Throughout their journeys, they encounter colossal representations of their beginning fathers, whose mentorship illuminates their lineage and enlightens them within the artwork of flight.

Which #LoisLane Is Your FAVORITE?

-Margot Kidder
-Erica Durance
-Teri Hatcher
-Elizabeth Tulloch pic.twitter.com/L9RpvnNhSk

— A Geek’s Viewpoint (@ViewpointGeek) June 5, 2025

Superman & Lois Lane and Hercules & Megara: An Uncanny Pairing of Best {Couples}

The primary heroic acts of each Hercules and Superman comprise rescuing strong-willed brunette ladies, Lois Lane and Megara, respectively, who subsequently turn into their romantic companions. These characters additionally share comparable personalities, be it their sharp-tongued wit, cynical notion, or preliminary resistance to consent to their heartthrobs’ advances.

Each ladies carry a subplot to realize info on the heroes and are equally instrumentalized within the motion pictures’ climactic battles, because the heroes resuscitate them by way of final sacrifices and newfangled elevation of their powers.

Hercules and Superman Tackle Hades’ and Lex Luthor’s Threats

The movies’ antagonists furthers the parallels with their mental threats. Sporting synthetic hair — Hades’ fiery locks and Lex Luthor’s varied toupees — they devise schemes to detriment the heroes by way of their minions and machinations somewhat than brutality.

The thematic resonance of aliens studying to content material their skills whereas integrating into human society in opposition to a world below risk has lengthy been a typical feat in fiction. Nonetheless, with isolation and acceptance, in addition to perplexity and goal as their parts, Superman and Hercules characterize nearly an identical character arcs, seen to the bare eye.

Just like how Christopher Reeve introduced a lot to Superman & Margot Kidder to Lois Lane, Gene Hackman did to his whimsical portrayal of Lex Luthor.

All 3 are a defining piece important to the appeal & craft of the 1978 film.

I hope they’re all Resting In Peace. pic.twitter.com/YmEcKKkIM0

— TomMCJL ✨ (@TomMCJL) February 27, 2025

Disney’s Disturbing Historical past of Remakes and Plagiarism

The aforementioned complete appropriation additionally exemplifies Disney’s incessant follow pertaining to mental properties. The studio has constantly demonstrated its willingness to change established properties in new packaging, be it fairy tales like Sleeping Magnificence, historic tales like Pocahontas, or mythological deities like Greek Gods.

Hercules represents one thing extra audacious, as it’s however an unofficial and flamboyant reimagining of Christopher Reeve’s Superman. That stated, amid Disney’s swarm of soulless remakes, Hercules is indubitably one of many higher ones.

A graphic I made evaluating Disney’s ‘Hercules’ to ‘Superman: The Film’ – I am not saying Disney are a buncha copycats, buuuuut…
byu/ZacPensol insuperman

The place to Stream Hercules and Superman

Hercules (1997) is offered for streaming on JioHotstar, whereas Superman (1978) could be watched on Amazon Prime Video. Watch their trailers right here.

For extra such updates, take a look at Hollywood Information

Should Learn: Superman Rotten Tomatoes Rating Soars Previous Zack Snyder’s Man of Metal as James Gunn Launches DC’s New Daybreak in True Guardians of the Galaxy Style

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