Podcast Summary:

MickeyJoTheatre – Is HERCULES closing for THE GREATEST SHOWMAN... or not? | What's going on with the Disney musicals
Host: Mickey Jo (MickeyJoTheatre)
Date: February 15, 2026

Episode Overview

In this episode, Mickey Jo dives into the surprising announcement that Disney’s Hercules musical will close in the West End in September 2026, despite reports of strong ticket sales and positive reception. The discussion delves into the rumors about what’s next for the historic Theatre Royal Drury Lane—especially speculation surrounding The Greatest Showman and other high-profile productions. Mickey Jo unpacks the context behind the closure, analyzes the possible strategic moves by Disney and LW Theatres, and surveys the current and future landscape of West End musicals based on industry insights and rumors.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Hercules Closure: What’s Really Happening?

• Background:

  • Hercules opened in June 2025 at Theatre Royal Drury Lane, after prior versions in NYC (Shakespeare in the Park, 2019), Papermill Playhouse (2023), and Hamburg, with each iteration evolving.
  • The show extended for a final time to close in September 2026, marking about a 15-month run ([03:30]).

• Ticket Sales and Audience Appeal:

  • Despite closure, “It was hard to get a ticket... Disney themselves were surprised at how well Hercules was doing, perhaps because they underestimate the appeal of certain titles within their catalogue and on the possibility of a later millennial audience.” (Mickey Jo, [07:40])
  • The audience mix: family audiences (trust in Disney for family entertainment) and nostalgic millennials who grew up with the original film.

• Comparisons with Other Disney Musicals:

  • Hercules performed better than expected, but not on the scale of The Lion King or Frozen. Its “culty” status means a one-year run is still a success for the title ([09:30]).

• Possible Causes for Closing:

  • Competition from Paddington the Musical, which possibly affected attendance at other family shows (Matilda, Hercules).
  • Standard seasonal slowdown for family shows after initial buzz.
  • Mickey Jo posits: “Alternatively, it could also be the case that Hercules is thriving and selling perfectly well, only closing because something else is waiting.” ([12:55])

Notable Quote

"It's got to be viewed as a small disappointment for Disney, whose stage version of The Lion King [is] the most successful musical in history ... but a year and a bit at Drury Lane is nothing to sniff at."
— (Quoting Timeout/Andrzej Lukowski) ([09:20])

2. The Greatest Showman: Is It Next for Drury Lane?

• Previous Assumptions:

  • Widespread belief that Hercules was “keeping the seat warm” at Drury Lane for The Greatest Showman.
  • The Greatest Showman is premiering at Bristol Hippodrome (regional tryout) due to start soon, and already sold out ([15:00]).

• Current Rumors and Industry Intrigue:

  • New word that The Greatest Showman may go to Broadway first, not the West End.
    “I started to hear from sources unprecedentedly close to the head of the Greatest Showman's creative team that the plan was potentially different ... the Greatest Showman, after having its world premiere run in Bristol, would actually head to Broadway first before London.” ([15:42])
  • This comes from Broadway's hunger for Disney premieres, possible major venue moves (New Amsterdam Theatre), and reflections on Disney’s prior tryout strategies (Frozen's UK run informed by changes made after the Broadway run).

• Still a Mystery:

  • “But now that Hercules is closing, have they reversed that decision? Is this just Greatest Showman going to the West End as we originally thought? Could it be that the even higher demand for the regional run of the Greatest Showman reminded Disney that that is their hottest property and need to prioritize it?” ([17:44])

• What about Theatre Royal Drury Lane?

  • If not The Greatest Showman, what is filling Drury Lane?
    “If Hercules is closing because there is an incoming tenant at Theatre Royal Drury Lane, but it isn’t The Greatest Showman ... what is actually coming next at one of London’s biggest theaters?” (Mickey Jo, [18:56])

3. Other Rumors and West End Speculation

• Sunset Boulevard & Film Stage Crossovers:

  • Speculation about Sunset Boulevard filming a pro-shot at Drury Lane is dismissed as unlikely due to technical and artistic challenges ([21:00]).

• Rumors About High-Profile Visitors & New Projects:

  • Noted that Quentin Tarantino was supposedly seen at the theatre—likely unrelated, possibly just a humorous anecdote ([22:38]).

• Game of Thrones’ “The Iron Throne” Stage Show:

  • Mickey Jo floats the idea that the mysterious “Game of Thrones”-inspired stage production may land at Drury Lane, but admits he’s speculating (“based on nothing that anyone has actually told me”) ([23:05]).

• Other Transfer Rumors:

  • Broadway hits (Happy Ending, The Outsiders, Buena Vista Social Club) possibly coming over, but Drury Lane may be too large for most short-run transfers ([23:50]).

• Big-Picture Theatre Availability:

  • West End is in a transition phase—with multiple venues wide open in 2026, and “strange gaps” between major bookings.

• Call for Community Input:

  • “I am willing to crowdsource this. Do you have any ideas or any insights into what might be going to Theatre Royal Drury Lane? ... The notion that it's going to go to Broadway before the West End is one that I've heard from multiple different sources. But things change. People may have changed their minds.” (Mickey Jo, [24:25])

4. The Future of Disney Musicals in the UK

• Hercules’ Next Steps:

  • Hamburg production closed, West End closing, so licensing or touring is the suspected next move.
  • Disney’s historic pattern is discussed—sometimes shows are mounted mainly to make them available for licensing (see Newsies, Paper Mill).
  • Possible tour? “I certainly think it’s feasible, in spite of the fact we still haven’t had any indication of a Frozen tour around the UK ... And Disney have the money to tour a show like Frozen if they wanted to.” ([27:00])

• Disney’s UK Stage Presence Shrinking:

  • After Hercules closes, only The Lion King remains in the West End (Greatest Showman run at Bristol is short and may not transfer immediately).
  • Uncertainty over Disney’s future strategy—waiting for new announcements.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On rumors and “insider” info:

  “Widespread belief that Hercules was only ever going to be a limited run at Theatre Royal Drury Lane because it was actually going to be the home of The Greatest Showman once it finished ... but then I began to hear differently.” (Mickey Jo, [04:08])

• On show longevity and Disney’s expectations:

  “A year and a bit at Drury Lane is nothing to sniff at, and it's so big that there's rarely the expectation that a show will run and run there ... I would challenge the idea that this is any kind of disappointment for Disney because I think, if anything, it continues to be a slightly pleasant surprise for them.” (Mickey Jo, quoting and responding to Timeout, [09:30])

• On Disney’s priorities and West End/Broadway relationships:

  “It would also be very exciting to get The Greatest Showman here first in a full, proper West End opening capacity. But it would also be very exciting to get The Greatest Showman here first in a full, proper West End opening capacity.” (Mickey Jo, [16:42])

• Inviting theories:

  “Is it just that I'm hearing hoofbeats and refusing to see the horses approaching? Is it just The Greatest Showman? ... But things change. People may have changed their minds.” (Mickey Jo, [24:28])

Key Timestamps

• 02:02 — Main episode begins, Hercules closure context and Drury Lane background.
• 03:30–10:00 — Run through Hercules’ history, audience reception, speculation on closure.
• 12:55 — Discussion on external competition (Paddington), seasonal effects, “is it really a flop or is something waiting in the wings?”
• 14:25 — The Greatest Showman rumors, West End vs. Broadway, Disney’s strategic choices.
• 18:56 — What could be next for Theatre Royal Drury Lane if not The Greatest Showman?
• 21:00–23:05 — Other show rumors and audience community input.
• 24:25 — Industry transitions, unknowns about future shows, Mickey Jo calls for communal theatre gossip.
• 26:40–28:45 — Where Disney’s UK stage focus could go now (tours, licensing, shrinking presence).

Final Thoughts

Mickey Jo delivers an insightful, energetic analysis of the state of Disney and large-scale musical theatre in the UK, drawing from both hard reporting and the rumour mill. While the immediate fate of Drury Lane remains unclear, the episode offers valuable context for understanding the business and creative strategies at play—and the sometimes mysterious machinery behind marquee West End productions.

“If you haven’t yet seen Hercules on stage and want to catch it in the West End, you have until September of this year.”
(Mickey Jo, closing call, [28:30])

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