Highlight: Hercules is Full of "Humanity" and Caught in a "Love Triangle".
Hercules is one of the most famous heroes in ancient Greek mythology and is well-known among the Chinese. Due to his demigod status, he was despised by Hera, the wife of Zeus. He later accomplished twelve feats deemed "impossible" - including rescuing the bound Prometheus and obtaining the Golden Fleece. After his death, his soul ascended to the heavens, and after deliberation among the gods, his great deeds were recognized, and he was ultimately deified and ascended to the "Constellation of the Warrior Immortal." The film "Hercules" is based on the story of Hercules, starting from the hero's "youthful years," similar to the film "Thor" released three years ago, tracing the "early years of the hero" and once again closely linking the "divine" with the "human." Director Renny Harlin stated that this is a story about origins: "We strive to explore the early years of this hero, when this young man did not yet know he would become Hercules. The struggles faced by heroes during their growth are very similar, such as having an unstable family, conflicts with friends, and complicated love. I want to portray a different Hercules, not just a tough hero who fights and kills. He also has a softer side and struggles between humanity and divinity..." This time, Hercules not only has brotherly "feuds" but also a "tragic romance" with a beautiful woman - the young Hercules falls in love with Princess Hebe, but his father has promised her to his brother, thus forming a "love triangle."
The focus is on the "Twilight heartthrob" who attracts attention; his muscles are irresistible. In Hollywood superhero films, the male lead is always crucial, often determining the success or failure of the entire film. This time, "Hercules" has chosen Kellan Lutz, a star from the "Twilight" series, to play the important role of Hercules. Recently, the production team revealed a still of Kellan Lutz, showcasing his determined gaze and athletic build, with a costume palette dominated by cool colors like red, black, and gray, all made of leather and metal materials, causing countless Chinese female viewers to exclaim, "I’m going to have a nosebleed." When discussing the casting, Renny Harlin said: "We are not trying to create a stereotypical Hercules who constantly shows off his muscles and lifts stones to demonstrate his strength. We want to create a real character who appears powerful due to his aura and inner strength, not just his physical size."
Superheroes have always been a popular theme in Hollywood, but recently American superhero comics have become "overdone," leading to the emergence of "freaks" like "The Avengers." New realms and themes have become a major focus for Hollywood superhero films, and in this context, ancient Greek mythology has become an undeveloped "treasure trove." It is well-known that ancient Greek mythology features many superheroes with high recognition worldwide, making the exploration of ancient Greek mythology a "smart choice." As Liam McIntyre, the star of "Hercules," stated: "Hercules is a hero unaffected by the times; he can be considered the first generation of superheroes, and later heroes like Superman and Batman were born to some extent based on his mythology." From the direction of this film, it begins with Hercules's "rise to fame," and like many Hollywood superhero series, it showcases its strong "ambition" from the outset. If "Hercules" serves as a "touchstone" for Hollywood's foray into Greek mythology, then the success of this film will, to some extent, determine the future direction of Hollywood superhero films.