Hercules: The Legend Begins will, thanks to an early release date, now be the first of two Hercules films to arrive in cinemas next year (though it still seems set for a direct clash with the Dwayne Johnson version over here unless someone moves). The first trailer appeared online last month, but was yanked unceremoniously and replaced with this new version courtesy of Yahoo.
The story, set in the Ancient Greece of 1200 B.C., finds a queen succumbing to the lust of Zeus to bear a son (Kellan Lutz) who is destined to overthrow the tyrannical rule of the king and restore peace to a land in hardship.
This prince, Hercules, knows nothing of his real identity or his destiny. He wants only one thing: the love of Hebe, Princess of Crete (Gaia Weiss), who has been promised to his own brother. When Hercules learns of his greater purpose, he must choose: flee with his true love or fulfil his destiny and become the true hero of his time. He’s also got to brood, swing swords around and generally show off all the work he’s being doing in the gym.
Of course, while the promo initially suggests that the film is going for a Gladiator / 300-syle semi-historical feel, it soon morphs into something akin to Wrath Of The Titans. Can it challenge The Rock for box office superiority? We don’t love its chances, but 2014 hasn’t even dawned yet. Hercules: The Legend Begins is set to arrive in the UK on August 8