Hercules

This is the story of the legendary half-man, half-god, from his supernatural birth, the adolescent discovery of his powers, his passionate loves, and, above all, his heroic feats that awed the world.

Hercules mother, Alcmene (Elizabeth Perkins, Finding Nemo), Princess of Thebes and high priestess of Hera, the supreme goddess, conducts a Harvest Festival ritual that offends both Hera and the all-powerful god Zeus. That very night, as Alcmene awaits the return from war of her husband, Amphitryon (Timothy Dalton, The Living Daylights), she is violated by the licentious Zeus and finds herself carrying what she believes to be the great gods child. Alcmene has twin boys - one fathered by Amphitryon and one by Zeus. But which is which?

When she determines which baby is Zeus offspring, she names him, in irony, "Hercules meaning Glory to Hera, and from the outset he is reviled and rejected by his mother. All of Alcmenes attempts to kill the baby Hercules fail, and he grows into a strapping young man, clumsy and unaware of his great physical strength. His special prowess is recognised by Amphitryon, who comes to believe he is the son of Zeus, and becomes his foster father, overseeing his training in martial arts and feats of strength.

The grown-up Hercules (Paul Telfer, Spartacus) weds Megara (Leeanna Walsman, Star Wars: Episode II Attack of the Clones), who does not return his love, in an arranged marriage designed to bring him nothing but trouble. Unbeknownst to Hercules, Megara and their three sons are also tools of the vengeful Hera, working against him through his mother Alcmene. After a drugged Hercules is tricked into murdering his young sons, he is banished from Thebes. In order to atone for his sins, Hercules agrees to tasksimpossible challenges designed to destroy him set forth by Megaras new husband, King Eurystheus (Kristian Schmid, Neighbours), who is encouraged by Hercules jealous twin brother, Iphicles (Luke Ford, The Junction Boys).

As he embarks on his mythic labors, Hercules has his allies: his faithful companion and music teacher, the bard Linus (Sean Astin, The Lord of the Rings trilogy), and the beautiful nymph Deianeira (played by Golden Globe nominee Leelee Sobieski, Joan of Arc), who secretly loves him and will do anything in her considerable magical powers to support him.

From his battle with Antaeus, the Cretan Bull (Tyler Mane), to his journey through the Stymphalian Swamps in search of the slashing harpies, to his face-off with the leather-winged Nemean Lion and the man-eating mares of Lemnos, and, finally, across the flaming waves of the River Styx into the depths of Hell itself, Hercules must survive terrifying odds in his search for redemption.

Filmed on location in New Zealand, Hercules is directed by Emmy and DGA award winner Roger Young (Lou Grant, Bitter Harvest, Murder in Mississippi) and is produced by Jeffrey Hayes with Robert Halmi, Sr. and Robert Halmi, Jr. serving as executive producers.