Hercules (2026) is an exciting prospect, especially given the legacy of Greek mythology and the iconic 1997 Disney animated film Hercules, which reimagined the mythological hero as a fun, action-packed musical adventure. The 2026 live-action remake of Hercules could offer a fresh, epic take on the story while staying true to the original’s roots. Disney has had great success with live-action adaptations of its animated classics (like Aladdin and The Lion King), and Hercules would likely continue this trend with a combination of exciting visuals, character-driven storytelling, and mythology-inspired adventure.

Story:

The 2026 Hercules could follow a similar structure to the original animated film, but with more emphasis on the grand scope of Greek mythology, the depth of the character of Hercules, and the larger-than-life epic battles between gods and mortals. Here’s how the story could unfold:

The Origins of Hercules:
- The film could start by exploring the birth of Hercules, the son of Zeus and the mortal Alcmene. His birth could be depicted as a celestial event, with gods looking on from Mount Olympus and the evil god Hades scheming to take over the world. Instead of being raised as a god, Hercules is kidnapped by Hades’ minions and placed in the mortal world, where he is unaware of his divine heritage. The story would explore his humble beginnings as a mortal and his journey of self-discovery.
- As in the original, Hercules would discover his powers at a young age and struggle with the knowledge that he is different from the other mortals around him.
The Hero’s Journey:
- Hercules’ journey would be a classic “hero’s journey” narrative. After discovering his true parentage, he would embark on a quest to become a true hero and prove himself worthy of his godly lineage. His training would likely be more intense, as he faces physical and emotional challenges to become stronger and understand what it means to be a hero. He could receive guidance from a mentor figure, similar to how Phil the satyr helped him in the animated film.
- Along the way, Hercules would learn humility, the value of friendship, and what it truly means to be a hero—not just through strength, but through compᴀssion and selflessness.
Hercules’ Relationship with Megara:
- One of the central emotional arcs in Hercules is his romance with Megara, the tough, cynical woman who has a tragic past. The 2026 film could explore a deeper, more emotional connection between the two, as Megara grapples with her own dark history involving Hades. Her journey could be more fully fleshed out, and her relationship with Hercules could evolve from skepticism to trust and love, giving the romance a richer emotional payoff.
- Hades’ manipulation of Megara to weaken Hercules could be depicted in a more complex way, showing her internal struggle as she ultimately chooses love and redemption over her past.
The Antagonist – Hades:
- Hades, the villainous god of the Underworld, will likely remain the primary antagonist, seeking to overthrow Zeus and take control of Mount Olympus. In the live-action version, Hades could be a more imposing figure with a sinister, charismatic presence, played by a notable actor who could bring a mix of menace and dark humor to the role.
- Hades’ plan would revolve around taking advantage of Hercules’ mortal nature to make him weak and prevent him from achieving his godly status, while also exploiting Megara’s vulnerabilities. The stakes would be high, as Hades seeks to tip the balance of power in the gods’ world, with Hercules as the key to his ultimate success or failure.
The Olympian Gods:
- The gods of Olympus could play a significant role in the 2026 remake, with Zeus serving as a guiding figure for Hercules. The film could expand on the relationships between the gods, exploring their divine powers and their interactions with one another. Key characters could include Hera (Hercules’ stepmother), who may be portrayed in a more complex light, and characters like Athena, Apollo, and Ares, each contributing to the unfolding events in their own way.
- The gods could be depicted as both benevolent and flawed, with their own agendas influencing their actions toward Hercules.
Epic Battles and Visual Spectacle:
- Given that Hercules is a story of gods and monsters, the film would feature breathtaking visual sequences, including epic battles with mythical creatures such as the Hydra, Cerberus, and other iconic beasts from Greek mythology. The final showdown between Hercules and Hades could be a visually stunning battle on Mount Olympus, blending action, magic, and high stakes as Hercules faces his greatest challenge yet.
- The film would likely have grand, sweeping landscapes and stunning CGI, particularly when showing the vastness of Mount Olympus, the Underworld, and the mythical creatures that inhabit them.

Characters:

Hercules: The тιтular hero, Hercules, will likely be portrayed as a character with a mix of strength, humility, and heart. He could be played by a charismatic, physically imposing actor who can also convey Hercules’ internal growth and emotional journey.
Megara: Megara, played by an actress who brings both strength and vulnerability to the role, would be a key character, exploring her past, her romance with Hercules, and her own redemption arc.
Hades: Hades, the villainous god of the Underworld, could be portrayed with a more menacing presence, with a complex backstory that explains his bitterness and desire for control over the gods and mortals.
Zeus: Hercules’ father and the king of the gods, Zeus would likely be a figure of authority and wisdom, played by a seasoned actor capable of conveying both power and paternal love.
Phil: The gruff yet endearing satyr who trains Hercules. In this version, he might be more fleshed out as a mentor figure with a stronger emotional connection to Hercules’ journey.
The Gods of Olympus: A variety of gods could play roles in the story, each with unique powers and personalities, including Hera, Apollo, Ares, and Athena.

Visual Style:

The film would likely employ cutting-edge CGI and practical effects to bring the mythological world to life. The Underworld, Mount Olympus, and the world of mortals would each have distinct visual styles that reflect the grandeur and divine nature of the gods, as well as the earthbound struggles of Hercules and his allies.
The creatures and monsters from Greek mythology would be brought to life with breathtaking detail, giving fans a more immersive and epic visual experience.

Music:

The music in Hercules 2026 would likely feature a dynamic orchestral score, combining the grandeur of classical music with modern elements to match the epic scale of the film. The soundtrack could also include songs inspired by the original animated film’s memorable music, but reimagined for a live-action setting, giving it a fresh, dramatic twist.

Tone:

The tone of the film would likely be a mix of epic adventure, emotional drama, and humor, especially in the moments between Hercules and his friends, like Phil and Megara. The film would balance grand, action-packed sequences with heartfelt moments of character development and personal growth.

Overall Expectations:

Hercules (2026) would be a thrilling, visually stunning reimagining of the classic Greek myth, blending powerful action with deep emotional moments. Fans can expect a more mature, cinematic take on the story, with a focus on character growth, relationships, and the struggle between heroism and vengeance. With high-stakes battles, magical realms, and memorable characters, the film could offer both nostalgia for fans of the original Hercules while appealing to a new generation of audiences.

A Farmer’s Misplaced Hammer Led to the Largest Roman Treasure in Britain

Hoxne Hoard treasures. Photo by Helen Simonsson CC by SA-2.0

November 16, 1992 was the day which changed Suffolk-resident Eric Lawes’ life in a huge way. What he thought would have been an innocent search for a hammer he had misplaced on his farm in Hoxne Village, Suffolk, England ended up bringing him much more than he had bargained for — namely, uncovering the hiding spot of a long-hidden treasure. Based on the Guardian’s coverage of the story, Eric Lawes had been previously gifted a metal detector upon his retirement as a parting token. He decided to put his retirement gift to good use in order to locate the hammer which he had had some trouble finding. According to a 2018 Smithsonian Magazine article, when the device started recording that there was a strong signal coming from the earth, he knew that he was about to discover something big. As he started digging, it soon became clear to him that he had unearthed a treasure trove.

Hoxne Village. Photo by Duncan Grey CC BY-SA 2.0

The Guardian reports that, when Lawes saw that his preliminary digging had yielded a few gold coins and silver spoons, he immediately contacted both the local archaeological society and the police department. Archaeologists came to the property the following day and had the area of earth holding the treasure carefully sectioned-off and removed. Their hope was that at a later stage, in their laboratory, they could examined the items in order to identify both their age and how they were stored.

Hoxne Hoard: Display case at the British Museum showing a reconstruction of the arrangement of the hoard treasure when excavated in 1992. Photo by Mike Peel CC BY-SA 4.0

When all was said and done, close to 60 pounds of items made from silver and gold were found on the site. These included more than 15,000 Roman coins, 200 gold objects, and several silver spoons. For archaeologists, this find — which later became labeled as the Hoxne Hoard — was an incredible discovery. AP News reported that archaeologist Judith Plouviez was over-the-moon about the discovery, saying that it was “an incredibly exciting and amazing find.” What’s more, another archaeologist, Rachel Wilkinson, told Smithsonian Magazine that this discovery was “the largest and latest ever found in Britain.”

Hoxne Hoard: Coins. Photo by Mike Peel CC BY-SA 4.0

Ordinarily, archaeologists would use radiocarbon dating as a means of identifying the age of ancient relics. However, they couldn’t locate any suitable material from the haul. Consequently, they determined the age by examining writing on the coins, as well as the ruler carved into them, estimating that the treasure was probably buried in either 408 or 409 AD.

The silver “Hoxne Tigress” – the broken-off handle from an unknown object – is the best known single piece out of some 15,000 in the hoard. Photo by Mike Peel CC BY-SA 4.0

Roman-era archaeologist Peter Guest told Smithsonian Magazine that “if you look at them a little more carefully, then they should be dated to the period after the separation of Britain from the Roman Empire.” He offers as part of his evidence the fact that almost all of the coins found in the Hoxne Hoard were clipped – in other words, small chunks of their edges had been taken off. These clippings would have been used to create coins which were similar to the Roman coins of that era.

A silver-gilt spoon with a marine beast from the Hoxne Hoard. Currently in the British Museum. Photo by JMiall CC BY-SA 3.0

Guest has a logical reason for this, arguing that “The Roman Empire wasn’t supplying Britain with new gold and silver coins, and in light of that, the population tried to get over this sudden cutoff in the supply of their precious metals by making the existing supplies go further.”

Reconstruction of the Hoxne treasure chest. Photo by Mike Peel CC-BY-SA-4.0

Archaeologists also believe that the treasure belonged to a Romano-British family. During that time, considering that there was so much societal discord and upheaval, it was common for Romans who had settled in Britain to bury their most prized possessions.

Two gold bracelets from the Hoxne Hoard, in the British Museum. Photo by Fæ CC BY-SA 3.0

That said, one archaeologist is of the belief that the hoard had a lot of sentimental value for the Romano-British family to whom it is believed to have belonged. In her book The Hoxne Late Roman Treasure: Gold Jewellery and Silver Plate, Catherine Johns claims that the manner in which the treasure was kept supported this claim. Some of the items which were recovered had been packaged in small, wooden boxes which were lined with leather. What’s more, pieces of wood, locks, and nails, among other things, surrounded the gold and silver pieces. This leads Catherine to assert that the package was carefully buried and not simply chucked away in a rush.

Three silver-gilt Roman piperatoria or pepper pots from the Hoxne Hoard on display at the British Museum

Interestingly enough, the items unearthed might shed some light on the identity of the family who owned them. They cite a gold bracelet bearing the inscription “UTERE FELIX DOMINA IULIANE,” which roughly translates to “use this happily Lady Juliane”. A second name “Aurelius Ursicinus” has also been discovered. This has consequently led some to believe that Juliane and Aurelius were the couple and the original owners of the treasure. That said, that has yet to be confirmed.

Two toiletry items, one in the shape of a crane-like bird; the other with an empty socket, probably for bristles for a makeup brush. Photo by Fæ CC BY-SA 3.0

All in all, the discovery was a real treasure for archaeologists, and by extension, for Lawes. According to Smithsonian Magazine, in recognition of his discovery and willingness to contact authorities, the British government rewarded him with over £1.7 million, an amount which he shared with the farmer whose land was dug out in order to get the treasure. Funnily enough, apart from the treasure, Lawes also found his lost hammer — which now resides in the British Museum.