Hey guys! Horrorella here...
Summit Entertainment has announced that it has picked up HERCULES: THE LEGEND BEGINS for release and plans to have it in theaters (in 2D and 3D) on February 7, 2014. This is the Hercules project that is being directed by Renny Harlan, and stars Kellan Lutz as the titular hero.
The other Hercules project (starring Dwayne Johnson and directed by Brett Ratner) due out next year is the one that has received more attention thus far, thanks, in large part, to all of the photos that star Dwayne Johnson has tweeted from the set.
Harlan's film looks to be something of an origin story for the mythic Greek demigod, as the hero quests for his one true love, Hebe, who has been promised to Hercules' brother.
The film certainly has its work cut out for it though, as Summit is plopping it down onto an already croweded opening weekend. It goes up against THE LEGO MOVIE and George Clooney's THE MONUMENTS MEN.
The full press release is below, as is the first trailer.
What do you guys think?
SANTA MONICA, CA November 12, 2013 – Summit Entertainment, a LIONSGATE® (NYSE: LGF) company, has acquired U.S. distribution rights to Millennium Films’ action-adventureHERCULES: THE LEGEND BEGINS starring Kellan Lutz (THE TWILIGHT SAGA, the upcoming THE EXPENDABLES 3) and directed by Renny Harlin (DIE HARD 2, CLIFFHANGER). Summit will release the film in 3D and 2D nationwide on February 7, 2014. The deal was announced today by Lionsgate Motion Picture Group Co-Chairs Rob Friedman and Patrick Wachsberger, and Avi Lerner, Chairman of Millennium Films.
Lutz stars as Hercules, the mythical Greek hero, demigod and son of Zeus. Betrayed by his King and sold into slavery, Hercules must use his formidable strength to fight for his freedom and return to his true love, Hebe, the Princess of Crete (played by Gaia Weiss).
The supporting cast includes Scott Adkins (THE EXPENDABLES 2), Liam McIntyre (“Spartacus”), Liam Garrigan (“Strike Back”), Johnathon Schaech (“Ray Donovan,” “The Client List”), Roxanne McKee (“Game Of Thrones”) and Rade Serbedzija (“Red Widow”). Screenplay is by Daniel Gliat. Producers are Danny Lerner, Les Weldon, Boaz Davidson and Renny Harlin. Executive Producers are Avi Lerner, Trevor Short and John Thompson.
“We look forward to working with Millennium to bring this larger-than-life hero to theaters and action fans in the new year,” said Friedman and Wachsberger. “We are also very proud to work on a project starring Kellan, with whom we have grown very close throughout the release of all five TWILIGHT SAGA films as well as the production of THE EXPENDABLES 3 scheduled for release next year.”
“We’re thrilled to be expanding our relationship with the very talented team at Lionsgate and Summit, who had such extraordinary success with Kellan in THE TWILIGHT SAGA franchise and with whom we have a great partnership on THE EXPENDABLES franchise,” Lerner said. “And I’m very pleased that ours will be the first movie in the 21st century to reintroduce modern audiences to this classic, timeless story.”
The deal was negotiated on behalf of Lionsgate and Summit by Jason Constantine, Lionsgate’s President of Acquisitions and Co-Productions, Eda Kowan, Lionsgate’s SVP of Acquisitions, and Wendy Jaffe, Lionsgate’s EVP of Business & Legal Affairs for Acquisitions & Co-Productions, and on behalf of Millennium by Avi Lerner and Mark Gill.
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