It seems the massive success of Christopher Nolan's The Odyssey may have opened the floodgates for more Greek mythology-inspired projects, as Disney is reportedly developing a live-action movie focusing on the monstrous Medusa
.According to Deadline, Tangled writer Michael Montemayor is working on the first draft of an original Medusa movie for the Mouse House, with Dwayne Johnson and his Seven Bucks partners Dany Garcia and Hiram Garcia on board as producers.
Deadline notes that "this is not a starring vehicle for Dwayne Johnson at this point in time," but things could always change in that regard.
Details are sparse, but the project is expected to be "a unique take on the Greek myth figure." This being a Disney movie, we don't expect Medusa to be depicted as a ruthless killer who turns anyone (men, in particular) to stone who dares to look her in the face.
Medusa was one of the snake-haired Gorgon sisters along with Euryale and Stheno. Of the three daughters of Phorcys and Ceto, only Medusa was mortal, which allowed Greek hero Perseus to decapitate her and use her head as a weapon. This tale played out in 1981's Clash of the Titans and its 2010 remake.
Versions of the character have appeared in several other movies and shows over the years, including classic Hammer horror flick The Gorgon, Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief, and Netflix's Kaos.
Medusa has also shown up in both the Marvel and DC Comics universes, and the Queen of the Inhumans, Medusalith Amaquelin, adopted the mokicker (how could she not).
In addition to the live-action Tangled movie, Montemayor is writing Stepsisters, an original live-action Cinderella spin-off, with Akiva Schaffer attached to direct and produce.
You can see Medusa in action in the original Clash of the Titans below.
Born of god but raised by humans, Perseus, the demigod son of mighty Zeus, the king of the gods, vows to take his revenge on Hades, the terrifying ruler of the Underworld, when he sees his mortal family perish. As the race of men summons up the courage to rebel against the gods of Olympus, the doomed city of Argos becomes a battlefield, as Hades threatens to unleash the legendary sea-monster, Kraken, unless the fair Princess Andromeda willingly offers herself as a sacrifice.
Now, having nothing more to lose, Perseus embarks on a daring, peril-laden quest to stop the forces of evil before Hades plunges the world into chaos and darkness. But, to survive the relentless onslaught of demons and terrible adversaries, Perseus must first embrace his destiny. Will Perseus defy the gods, and save humankind in the clash of the Titans?