One of the most important elements of live-action adaptations comes down to the casting, and for Hercules, it will be essential to get the right actress in place to play Meg, Hercules’ love interest. While Disney continues to adapt some of their classic films, surprisingly, alongside new hits like Moana, it has yet to adapt one of the all time greatest musicals ever made by Disney, Hercules. In 2022, this project was confirmed to be moving ahead, with the Russo brothers set to produce.
However, years later, very little has been announced about the upcoming Hercules movie, aside from another confirmation that it is still happening by the Russo’s. It’s likely that the movie won’t be ready for a few years, but in the meantime, it’s worth looking at potential castings for the central roles. And one of the most important characters to consider is Megara, a woman whose soul is indebted to Hades. Despite being sent as a way to trap Hercules for her master, Meg falls in love, and this creates the central tension in the film.
10 Ariana Grande
First up, Ariana Grande, most well known for her career as a talented musician with a stunning vocal range, Grande has recently been moving back into the realm of acting, where she actually began to find success in her career. Initially, Grande starred on the Nickelodeon show, Sam & Cat, but it wasn’t long before her impressive singing ability outshone her role on the show. At this point, she also landed roles in Broadway musicals, proving her vocal talents and developing her career as an all-round performer.
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In 2013, she released her debut album, and since then, Grande has established herself as a singer first, but recently, she has begun tackling more acting roles again, such as playing Glinda in Wicked, and various appearances in skits on Saturday Night Live. While she is often cast as a sweet or soft-spoken character, Grande has shown a tougher side in her sketch performances, and she clearly has the singing ability to play Meg for Hercules.
9 Anna Kendrick
Anna Kendrick, on the other hand, has focused more on her acting career, but her voice earned her the lead in the musical comedy series of movies, Pitch Perfect. Where Grande has built a reputation as the soft and sweet feminine figure, Kendrick delivers much bolder performances with confidence, bravado, and attitude. Her characters often have a dark spin, or an element of mystery which would be perfect for playing Meg.
When Meg first meets Herc, she clearly flirts with the masculine hero. However, the flirtation masks a more dangerous truth. Meg is a trap, sent by Hades, in an effort to kill Hercules and position himself as the future ruler of the gods. This subtle darkness, and a hidden secret are things that Kendrick could do very well, as well as having the experience in the musical space.
8 Lashana Lynch
Lashana Lynch exudes confidence and strength in every role she has appeared in. From playing Maria Rambeau in Captain Marvel, to the tough MI6 agent Bianca Pullman in The Day of the Jackal, Lynch is strong, confident, and courageous. In addition, compared to some of the other entries on this list, she is slightly older, but appears very youthful.
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Meg is a strong-willed character, and despite her enforced servitude under Hades, she isn’t afraid to stand up for herself. Meg pushes back, speaks up, and ensures that her voice is heard whatever the circumstances. And important to the story of Hercules, Meg is depicted as being a slightly older woman who tempts the young Herc away from other commitments and responsibilities with her stunning beauty and mysterious nature.
7 Morena Baccarin
Morena Baccarin is another actress who could fit the bill perfectly for several similar reasons to Lashana Lynch. Baccarin is tough, and commonly cast as characters who stand up for themselves. In the role of Vanessa Carlyle in the Deadpool movies, Vanessa is also a mercenary, and when she feels that Wade is not living up to his potential, she moves on to find a better match. This independence and confidence are perfect elements for the role of Meg.
Meg is involved in shady work for the literal god of the Underworld. Hades commands her to do his bidding, and while she may not like it, she isn’t afraid to get her hands dirty and work hard. But, she remains strong, confident, and capable of pushing back when needed. Baccarin has also been cast in a lot of roles where her character has an intense romantic connection, which again suits the character of Meg in Hercules.
6 Jodie Comer
Jodie Comer is perhaps best known for her role as Villanelle in Killing Eve. In this role, she plays an undercover agent who works as part of a secret assassin group known as The Twelve. Her character is rough around the edges, but also susceptible to falling in love. In other films and TV shows, Comer has delivered similar performances with characters who have a tough exterior, but also possess a softer spirit.
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Meg could absolutely be described in a similar way, considering her struggle to live a double life as an agent of Hades, whilst also wishing for freedom from these underhanded, dark jobs. Comer’s name has been suggested by many fans in connection with the role of Meg, and she could be a perfect fit for the role with some vocal training to refine her voice for performing solo as Meg.
5 Zoë Kravitz
Zoë Kravitz is the daughter of the famous singer, Lenny Kravitz, and as such, she grew up surrounded by music. She also has an incredible voice herself, and while she has not built a career focused on her musical ability, she certainly has the talent to do so. In addition, she has recently landed notable roles in films like The Batman, where she played the mysterious and broody young woman, Selina Kyle.
If Kravitz were to tackle the role as Meg, she already has all the talent and experience she would need to play the part convincingly. On top of this, her persona as an actress exudes confidence and intelligence, two important aspects of the character of Meg. Kravitz could easily draw on her experience playing Selina as well to have a complex relationship with both the hero and the villain.
4 Elizabeth Gillies
Elizabeth Gillies is a close friend of Ariana Grande, who also found early success on Nickelodeon. Her breakout role was playing a so-called ‘bad girl’ who attended a performing arts school in Victorious. Gillies has a solid career as a singer-songwriter and performer, as well as a healthy acting career. She is also commonly cast as the misfit, or outcast girl who remains self-assured and confident despite being different.
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All of this adds up to Gillies being yet another solid choice to play Meg for a live-action adaptation of Hercules. Gillies is comfortable playing characters who keep things close to their chest, and occasionally hide their feelings in order to avoid being vulnerable. However, once those walls come down, she can easily transition to a soft and affectionate figure, just as Meg does with Hercules.
3 Emma Mackey
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Emma Mackey’s most notable roles to date have been as part of the Netflix series Sex Education, Emily, and Barbie. In each of these roles, Mackey has proven her exceptional talents as an actress who can tackle a wide variety of roles. However, characters like Maeve Wiley from Sex Education have a lot in common with Meg that could make Mackey perfect for the role.
In addition, Mackey has a beautiful singing voice that has been underutilized in her work as an actress up to this point. Considering her previous experience, vocal talents, and the physical appearance which again closely resembles Meg from Hercules, Mackey could be a perfect fit for the role if she were cast. Helping to bring together the classic look and nostalgia for the animated character, with a talented young actress who could pull it off.
2 Jennifer Lawrence
Jennifer Lawrence is another highly versatile actress who has had a highly successful Hollywood career. Early on, she played Katniss Everdeen in The Hunger Games, a strong-willed, rebellious young woman who struggled with her own romantic feelings. Years later, Lawrence has been cast in a number of roles where she plays a slightly older young woman who connects romantically with a younger guy and eventually lets herself fall in love as seen in No Hard Feelings.
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Lawrence also has a wonderful singing voice that is perfect for performing the kind of songs that Meg sings in Hercules. With all of these elements in place, Lawrence appears to be an ideal choice to tackle playing the character. And considering her incredible talent for creating natural chemistry with co-stars, Lawrence would be sure to create a satisfying and rewarding connection between herself and whoever stepped up to play Hercules.
1 Jameela Jamil
Jameela Jamil got into acting slightly later than most of the individuals on this list, but since her career kicked off in 2016 with her debut performance as one of the leads in The Good Place, Jamil has gone from strength to strength. She has tackled a variety of characters, with several being set up as antagonistic, such as her character in She-Hulk: Attorney At Law, or Pitch Perfect: Bumper in Berlin, but this only adds to her ability to play a complex, layered character like Meg.
Jamil also has an incredibly singing voice, with her vocal performance being a pivotal part of Pitch Perfect: Bumper in Berlin. Combine this with her stunning beauty, intellectual prowess, and her talents for playing characters with a dark side, and it makes her an ideal candidate for the part. However, it is possible that the live-action Hercules film could aim to cast someone less well-known for the part.