Since 1997, Hercules has gone from Zero to Hero! Coming to the West End at Theatre Royal Drury Lane, with performances beginning 6 June 2024 - the wisecracking family tale follows the demigod Hercules who is taken as a baby by Hades and raised among humans. Now a teenager, he must prove himself on Earth to earn his place among the gods of Mount Olympus.

Check out these fun facts about Hercules, and don't wait 18 years for the planets to align - book your tickets now!

Musical Facts

1. Look At All Those Award Winners!

Fans of Hercules have nothing to worry about, as the musical is certainly in good hands. 8-time Oscar winner Alan Menken returns, with lyrics by Tony Award winner David Zippel and a book by Tony Award winner Robert Horn (Tootsie) and Kwame Kwei-Armah (former Artistic Director of the Young Vic). Hercules in the West End will be Directed and choreographed by Tony Award-winner Casey Nicholaw (Aladdin).

2. Luke Brady is Hercules!

After a worldwide search, up-and-coming star Luke Brady (As You Like It, The Prince of Egypt) has been cast as Hercules. The casting team felt his "magnetism and presence" mirrored that of the mythical hero, making him the perfect fit for the role.

3. New Music!

The legendary composer-lyricist team behind the original Hercules movie has added new songs for this stage production. During the Off-Broadway run, Alan Menken and David Zippel added five new songs to expand on the original soundtrack, including a jazzy number called "A Cool Day in Hell" sung by Hades and his minions - we wonder what we'll get to hear this time?

4. It's Going To Be Hilarious

True to the film's playful spirit, the Off-Broadway stage adaptation was described as being full of "Disney de rigueur" wisecracks and pop-culture jokes that kept the energy light and fun, reminiscent of Robin Williams' Genie in Aladdin. This humour played a big part in its appeal, and it's sure to be just as funny in the West End. Writer Robert Horn has said that when working with Kwame on the West End version "We laughed so hard, we both got abs."

Film Facts

1. Hades Has Perfect Timing

Disney has always had a knack for precision. Look closely and you'll see that Hades' iconic line, "We dance, we kiss, we schmooze, we carry on...," is delivered exactly at the 46-minute mark. That's precisely halfway through the 92-minute film.

2. Meeting Megara by the River

Hercules first meets Meg while rescuing her from the river monster, Nessos. This is a clever nod to the myth, where Hercules meets one of his wives, Deianira, in almost the same way!

3. "Somebody Call IX-I-I!"

When the kids are trapped under a boulder, they shout, "Somebody call IX-I-I!" which translates to 9-1-1 in Roman numerals. A little ancient twist on a modern emergency call!

4. Hercules The An Ancient Celebrity

During "Zero to Hero," the muses sing about Hercules' rise to fame, even mentioning merchandise and wild fans. Ancient Greek athletes did have fans, fame, and even sculptures made in their honour. Herc truly was destined to be a superstar!

Bonus fact: The film's animation is inspired by Greek mythology art - so much so that you'll notice it looks nothing like its Disney brothers and sisters!