Ron Clements and John Musker wrote Hades for Jack Nicholson, then brought the actor a custom animation test as part of their pitch for Disney’s Hercules.
Animator Andreas Deja matched Hades to Nicholson’s dialogue from A Few Good Men. Clements recalled that Nicholson “seemed to enjoy” the animation. The directors also presented a full sequence introducing Hades with Pain and Panic.
Clements recounts the private presentation in an excerpt published by PEOPLE from Making Disney Magic . . . from a Mermaid to Moana. The memoir was published by Disney Editions on October 13.
Read the memoir excerpt at PEOPLE and see Making Disney Magic . . . from a Mermaid to Moana at Penguin Random House.