Next year we will see competing "Hercules" movies at the box office and while the Brett Ratner film already has Dwayne Johnson in the title role, The Hollywood Reporter says that Twilight actor Kellan Lutz will play the part in Renny Harlin's film Hercules 3D.
"It takes more than a good physique to portray the most legendary, mythological personality in history and Kellan has exactly that, personality," Harlin said. "He's not afraid to explore the strengths and vulnerabilities of the character, and he impressed me with his passion and heart."
The director has previously said that this version of the character will be more akin to the Ridley Scott film Gladiator than "flying horses."
From a script written by Sean Hood and Hanna Weg, Hercules 3D is targeting a March 2014 release.
"Spartacus: War of the Damned" star Liam McIntrye has signed on to play an army captain in Renny Harlin's upcoming action project, Hercules 3D. The Hollywood Reporter has the news, saying that McIntyre's character is a trusted friend of Kellan Lutz's Hercules.
Kellan Lutz talks Hercules 3D and how it's different from the other film
Sometimes a funny coincidence happens in hollywood and movies come out in the same year with really similar stories, in fact we're getting a pair this year with Olympus Has Fallen and White House Down. Next year will see the release of competing "Hercules" films, one of them starring Dwayne Johnson as the character and the other with Kellan Lutz. CraveOnline spoke with Lutz about the role and allowed him the chance to differentiate the two films.
"I love The Rock. I grew up watching wrestling. Hes such a great actor. I wish them the best. They have a great cast but the story is completely different. Hes much older and our Hercules is the mans journey from him being a boy to a man, and its very real and human. Our character goes through being lovestruck and then heartbroken and then anguish and loneliness, sadness and remorse. Its really a story about a man, a man and the journey to get back to his love. So its not a man with super powers. A man not understanding the strengths that he does have and hes in denial because he doesnt believe in gods at first and doesnt believe that hes the son of Zeus and just really feels rejected by who he thinks is his father. Its just really going through the story of what a normal boy would go through and the situation that hes forced into."
Hercules 3D will be the first of two unrelated Hercules films next year and it's being helmed by Die Hard 2 director Renny Harlin. We spoke with Harlin about the film, which was shot in the same facilities in Bulgaria as Zack Snyder's 300, and he elaborated on its story as well as what we can expect from its star Kellan Lutz.
"The action is really big and fun, but at the heart of it all is a great love story. This is an origin story, that introduces him to people who might not know who Hercules is or it's for those who have a cartoon-y idea of who he is, carrying around big things"
Having previously described the film as being more like Ridley Scott's Gladiator than "flying horses," Harlin elaborated on the film's story a little more, and reinforced that idea.
"This is the story of a young man who comes to terms with who he is and how he has much more responsibility. His father is Zeus and his mother was mortal, and he has a much bigger mission in his life. It's about fulfilling your destiny and responsibilities. It's an epic adventure story and he wants to be reunited with this girl who was ripped away from him. We have some amazing actors. You're going to see Kellan Lutz in a way you've never seen. It's just a big scale story and I'm excited to show the world next spring."
Harlin concluded that the film is currently in post-production and he will deliver his cut of the movie in six weeks.
Hercules 3D is written by Sean Hood and Hanna Weg with a cast that also includes Gaia Weiss, Scott Adkins, and "Spartacus" star Liam McIntyre. It is targeting a March 2014 release.
UPDATE:CraveOnline also spoke today with Harlin and learned that the film will include one elaborate sequence that runs for six minutes without cutting away.
I have a battle scene that lasts six minutes that is all one shot, Harlin told the site. [It] covers a sea battle and ground battle and hand to hand combat and sword fighting, spears and bows and arrows and flying boulders, all done in one shot that never cuts. Ill give you that spoiler. Thats one of the biggest shots Ive ever created.
Summit renames the Hercules film starring Kellan Lutz
Summit Entertainment didn't acquire the distribution rights to director Renny Harlin's "Hercules" film until earlier this month, but since then two major changes have been made. The film was originally announced as a February 7, 2014 release, but then three days later Summit said it would be coming to theaters on January 10, 2014 instead. Earlier this week, the new trailer was also released still with the title "Hercules: The Legend Begins," but now that has been changed to The Legend of Hercules. You can watch the trailer with the new title below.
Κατ' αρχήν δεν είμαι και σαν την Ακρόπολη , δεύτερον απλά η φυσιογνωμία του Ρήβς με το μουσάκι, κατά την γνώμη μου είναι πιο Αρχαιοελληνική! και πιο αντρίκια (δεν μπορεί να ήταν φλούφλης ένας Ηρακλής!!!), αυτά βέβαια όλα, είναι υποκειμενικά για τον καθένα!