14 DAY TRIAL // To this day, Arnold Schwarzenegger is the most famous Hercules in Hollywood films, despite the fact that many men have taken on the role of the Greek demi-god. Most recently, it was the turn of Kellan Lutz to put on his loincloth and offer a glimpse into a fantasy past.
Today, it's Dwayne Johnson's turn to give his best performance of the mighty hero, whose name is associated with the concept of great strength. The Rock, as he's called from his wrestling days, looks very different in the photos released by the studio and made available by USA Today.
The usually bald actor can be seen with long, flowing hair, a full beard as well as his signature imposing frame made up of pure muscle. In one photo he can be seen wielding a sword while clad in leather chest armor and in the other he's chained to a post, shouting at the top of his lungs.
Of the latter photo, Johnson had this to say “It's when Hercules breaks through the chains and becomes the demi-god he was born to be. I was actually yelling with all the power I could muster, ‘I am Hercules!’ I gave it my all and made myself pass out every time we did it. But I honestly felt in that moment that I was born to play this role.”
People on the set, including the director, have commended the dedication that Johnson has displayed during filming, “It's incredible, he's up every morning at 3:45 right on the treadmill, then it was right to the gym for hours,” says producer Beau Flynn admiringly. “And then it was to the makeup chair, then shooting all day in the heat. And repeat that for 90 days.”
The movie is based on the Radical Studios graphic novel “Hercules: The Thracian Wars,” which presents Hercules after his famous twelve labors, following his legendary rise to god-like status. He is now haunted by a sin from his past and has since become a mercenary.
He travels through ancient Greece, selling his martial skills to the highest bidder, but is confronted with a moral dilemma when the benevolent ruler of Thrace and his daughter seek his help in defeating a savage warlord. He must stare down his own demons and retake his true nature – that of the hero he was always meant to be.
Johnson hopes to draw attention of the public away from the recent flop of the last Hercules movie starring Kellan Lutz and convince them to show up in movie theaters on July 25 with just his “passion-driven” energy for the project.