Hero in film essentially tackles con (4)
I believe the answer is:
idol
'hero' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)
'film essentially tackles con' is the wordplay.
'essentially' indicates the central letters.
'tackles' indicates putting letters inside (tackle can mean to intercept or surround).
'con' becomes 'do' (to 'do' someone could be to con them).
The middle letters of 'film' are 'il'.
'il' going around 'do' is 'IDOL'.
'in' acts as a link.
(Other definitions for idol that I've seen before include "loved one" , "Favourite" , "Person who is the object of intense admiration as by fan club" , "Subject of adoration, may be graven" , "'Worshipped object, admired person (4)'" .)