Josh Gad has no interest in playing Phil in Disney's live-action Avengers: Endgame, are on board as producers. Little else has been revealed about the project, but the announcement was still enough to send the internet into a tizzy.
Gad, for his part, has cultivated quite the working relationship with Disney over the last few years. He's perhaps best known for voicing Olaf in the Gad would reprise his role as LeFou alongside Luke Evans' Gaston in a prequel series for Disney+.
Gad has been the center of a few fan castings in the past, but there is one he refuses to step near. Following the news of Hercules' development, some fans called for Gad to take on the role of Hercules' cantankerous mentor Phil. Gad addressed those wishes on Twitter and said he will not be playing the role because "There is only one man who should be playing Phil and his name is @DannyDeVito." DeVito, of course, voiced Phil in the original 1997 film.
Gad isn't alone in thinking DeVito should step into the role of Phil once again, though until things are announced officially, it'll just remain a fervent wish. Seeing as Hercules is still in very early development, it's likely that casting won't happen for a while. Still, that hasn't stopped fans from voicing their hopes about who will become the beloved characters. It also hasn't stopped performers from throwing their hats into the ring either, as Glee's Amber Riley has already put herself forward as one of the Muses.
It should be noted that DeVito once again playing Phil wouldn't be the first time a voice actor returned for a live-action film. Last year, James Earl Jones, the original Mufasa, lent his voice to The Lion King to the delight of fans. It's not a done deal that DeVito will be back for Hercules (or that he'll even want to do it), but if he is, it'll earn the film a huge thumbs-up from fans (including Gad).
Source: Josh Gad/Twitter
