Dwayne Johnson is producing Disney's new live-action Medusa movie through Seven Bucks, but he isn't attached to star. Michael Montemayor, who wrote Disney's live-action Tangled, is on the first draft.
Disney's next live-action project has snakes for hair.
The studio is developing an original live-action Medusa movie, Deadline reported Friday, Nov. 6. Michael Montemayor, who wrote Disney's live-action Tangled, is writing the first draft. Dwayne Johnson's Seven Bucks Productions is developing it.
Johnson is producing with Seven Bucks partners Dany Garcia and Hiram Garcia. Matt Smith is also producing through Electro Corduroy Entertainment, CBR reported. Melissa Fried is overseeing the project for Disney, MovieWeb reported.
So is The Rock playing Perseus? Not right now. SuperHeroHype reported that Johnson "is not attached to feature in the film," and Nerdist said he isn't expected to star. No director or cast is attached, and there's no release date.
The plot is under wraps. Deadline described Montemayor's script as a "very unique take on the Greek myth figure," Laughing Place reported.
When will Disney's Medusa movie come out?
Disney hasn't said. The script is still a first draft, and there's no director, no cast and no release date.
For a sense of pace, Montemayor's last big Disney script, live-action Tangled, isn't due in theaters until 2028. Snakes take time, apparently.
Who is Michael Montemayor?
He's turning into Disney's go-to guy for fresh takes on old stories. Montemayor wrote the screenplay for Disney's live-action Tangled, which Michael Gracey (The Greatest Showman) is directing. It's set for March 31, 2028, Laughing Place and MovieWeb reported.
He's also writing Stepsisters, an original live-action spinoff of Cinderella, with Akiva Schaffer attached to direct.
Rapunzel's hair, then Medusa's snakes. That's a lot of hair-based storytelling for one writer.
What has Seven Bucks made with Disney?
Seven Bucks signed a multiyear first-look deal with Disney on June 13, 2024, to develop movies for theaters and streaming, the company announced at the time. It said those projects "will be possible vehicles for Johnson to star in." Medusa, for now, isn't one of them.
The company's last Disney movie was Jungle Cruise in 2021, Laughing Place noted. Johnson also played Maui again in Disney's live-action Moana, which opened in theaters July 10.
Who is Medusa in Greek mythology?
She's one of three Gorgons, the daughters of Phorcys and Ceto, along with her sisters Euryale and Stheno. The hero Perseus cut off her head, Laughing Place noted. Her gaze turns people to stone.
In the Roman version of the story, Medusa was a priestess. Athena turned her hair to snakes as punishment after Poseidon assaulted her in Athena's temple, ScreenRant noted. ScreenRant said it's unclear which version Disney's movie will follow, or how dark it will get.
Where has Disney used Medusa before?
A few places, ScreenRant noted:
Hercules: The Animated Series: Medusa turned up in the TV spinoff of Disney's 1997 movie.
Percy Jackson and the Olympians: Jessica Parker Kennedy played her in the Disney+ series.
Park fans know one more. A portrait in the Haunted Mansion changes from a pretty lady into Medusa when the lightning flashes. We wrote about Loungefly's mini backpack based on it in September.
And no, this isn't Madame Medusa, the villain from The Rescuers. Different Medusa, fewer crocodiles.
What happened to Disney's live-action Hercules?
Disney first announced a live-action Hercules in 2020, with Joe and Anthony Russo's company AGBO producing and Dave Callaham writing. Deadline reported in June 2022 that Guy Ritchie would direct, SlashFilm noted at the time.
Disney hasn't set a release date for it. Nothing reported so far ties the Medusa project to Hercules.
Greek myths are having a moment anyway. Nerdist pointed to the Percy Jackson series and the big box office for Christopher Nolan's The Odyssey this year.
Article compiled and written by Kambrea Pratt (editor-in-chief), Derek Gibbs (beat editor) and the Pirates & Princesses newsroom. Pirates & Princesses is part of WebReef Media.
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Hat Tips:
Deadline (Nov. 6, 2026), the original report on the writer, producers and premise
Laughing Place (Nov. 6, 2026), the producers, the Tangled date, Stepsisters, Jungle Cruise and Medusa's myth background
MovieWeb (Nov. 6, 2026), Melissa Fried overseeing and Michael Gracey directing Tangled
CBR (Nov. 6, 2026), Matt Smith and Electro Corduroy Entertainment
SuperHeroHype (Nov. 6, 2026), Johnson not attached to star
Nerdist (Nov. 6, 2026), Johnson not expected to star and the Greek myth context
ScreenRant (Nov. 6, 2026), the Roman version of the myth and Disney's earlier Medusas
Seven Bucks (June 13, 2024), the Disney first-look deal
SlashFilm (June 17, 2022), the live-action Hercules team
The Numbers (Nov. 6, 2026), the live-action Moana release date
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