Susan Egan is blessing the next generation by hand-picking Zendaya as her heir apparent to Meg's legacy. It's a graceful pass of the torch from one powerful woman in Hollywood to another, showing nothing but class and generosity toward potential successors.
Insiders know Disney has been quietly exploring Hercules for live-action treatment for years—but casting two A-listers like Zendaya and Tom Holland would mean negotiating massive paydays. Some question whether their chemistry as Peter Parker translates to Greek mythology, while others note their real-life relationship adds complicated on-set dynamics.
Susan Egan voiced Meg in Disney's 1997 animated Hercules—nearly 29 years ago. She made these comments Sunday at D23 (August 16, 2026) speaking exclusively with Deadline on the red carpet. Spider-Man: Brand New Day recently became a box office hit.
Disney's remake machine keeps churning, and now it's got Susan Egan's official seal of approval—but will studio brass actually pull the trigger on this expensive dream pairing?
When you're the original voice of one of Disney's most iconic heroines, apparently you get to handpick your own replacement. That's exactly what happened Sunday at D23 when Susan Egan—who voiced Meg in 1997's Hercules—sat down with Deadline on the red carpet and made a bold proclamation: Zendaya should play her character if Disney ever greenlights a live-action remake. And for Hercules himself?
She had Tom Holland in mind. The nominations weren't subtle either. Egan was direct, enthusiastic, and clearly thrilled at the prospect of seeing two of Hollywood's biggest stars take on roles she helped define nearly three decades ago.
"The world needs it," she told Deadline, signaling not just approval but active advocacy for this casting dream team. It's a significant moment because Egan isn't just any alum—she originated Meg's sharp-tongued, cynical-but-ultimately-romantic persona that became legendary in Disney's catalog. The timing is notable given the current landscape of animated-to-live transitions.
Disney has found massive box office success with remakes like The Little Mermaid and Beauty and the Beast, though results have been mixed critically. Hercules represents a unique opportunity: it's beloved but hasn't been over-exposed through theme park tie-ins or constant re-releases like some other properties. Adding Zendaya and Holland would instantly elevate any remake from nostalgic project to event film.
Of course, there are complications nobody's addressing publicly yet. Zendaya and Holland are already one of Hollywood's most scrutinized couples, and putting them together onscreen as romantic leads in a mythological setting adds layers of media attention that studios usually try to avoid until production wraps. There's also the small matter of their Spider-Man commitments—Holland just starred in Spider-Man: Brand New Day, which Deadline notes was a box office success, meaning his schedule is likely packed with Marvel obligations for the foreseeable future.
Egan's endorsement carries weight precisely because she's been there and done that. She knows what it takes to bring Meg to life, and her enthusiasm suggests she'd be involved in some capacity if Disney moves forward—whether as consultant, advocate from within, or perhaps even a cameo. The question now is whether Disney will take the bait and actually develop this project, or let another potentially lucrative remake fade into development limbo alongside the dozen other properties they've announced and shelved.
