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Hercules: Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson's 12 Biggest Challenges

There have been many screen incarnations of Hercules over the year but none have been as imposing as Dwayne Johnson in Brett Ratner’s ‘Hercules’.

Based on the graphic novel ‘The Thracian Wars’, this new telling of the ancient myth is probably the most bombastic to date, and that posed a number of challenges to the wrestler-turned-actor known to most as The Rock.

In fact, those challenges were almost as Herculean as the mythical Twelve Labours faced by the film’s inspiration, as we found out on the movie’s set.

1. Reinventing a classic

“There are a few different versions of Hercules that can be made,” explains a terrifying looking Dwayne Johnson, kitted out in full barbarian gear on the Hungarian set of ‘Hercules’. “Ours is a very different take on the story… it’s grittier, it’s weighted with depth. When we first meet Hercules, he’s exiled out of Athens for committing a horrific crime. He’s a mercenary. He fights for gold. He’s lost his faith.”

2. Getting into comics

Based on Steve Moore’s graphic novel, ‘Hercules: The Thracian Wars’, this is Johnson’s first foray into the world of comic books (ahead of his long-rumoured role in a DC project). “We were actually developing a Hercules script three of four years ago,” says Johnson, “and then I met with one of the producers who happened to have the graphic novel. The writing is just fantastic”.

3. Staying in shape

Squeezed onto a tiny folding chair in a tent, somewhere in a field near Budapest, Johnson looks bigger than ever. “I was prepping this over a year ago from a physical standpoint,” he grins, as the chair groans. “Even when I was doing other movies over the last 12-18 months, they were fairly physical roles, so I was able to keep in the zone. It’s the role of a lifetime, so you have to be committed to it…”

4. Scrapping the myth

Anyone who’s seen the trailer knows that there are a fair few hydras, bulls and boars in the movie for Herc to latheth the smackdown on, but don’t expect this version (set years after the fabled ‘12 labours’) to go big on myths and monsters. “This Hercules has lost his faith in the Gods,” says Johnson. “He spreads his own legend just to aid his mercenary ways.”

5. Finding the right director

“When I met with Brett Ratner (director of ‘Tower Heist’, ‘Rush Hour’ and ‘X-Men: The Last Stand’) about two years ago, he had this gleam in his eye,” remembers Johnson. “I knew we had the right guy for the job. He talked about making the definitive version of Hercules – a version that had quality and depth, and was a bit darker and edgier, but was ultimately all about faith. I met with other directors but the whole message of the story for them was different.”

6. Working as a team

This time, Herc isn’t on his own. With the likes of Ian McShane, Rebecca Ferguson, Aksel Hennie, Reece Ritche and Ingrid Bolsø Berdal rounding off his international super-team, the Grecian hero raises a rebel army of archers, chariot racers, barbarians and cannibals to fight both sides of a Thracian civil war.

7. Growing a beard

“I didn’t have time to grow my hair this long,” laughs Johnson, looking like a heavy metal hulk with a straggly beard reaching right down to his pecs. “It’s a three hour process every morning that includes hair, beard and tattoo coverage. It‘s not a lace beard either. I

t’s long strips of hair, individually applied and individually curled with heated tongs. That alone takes a good two hours.”

8. Sticking to the plan

“This project has been with me for such a long time,” says Johnson. “When I first started acting 14 years ago, this was the first idea that I brought up. I was new in the business and Universal had just come up with the idea of doing ‘The Scorpion King’, so they felt that it was kinda similar in tone. It’s funny and ironic how things come full circle.”

9. Getting up in the morning

“I get up sometime between three and four o’clock in the morning,” grins Johnson, “then I’ll do cardio. Then I’ll come back and have breakfast – steak, eggs and oatmeal – a nice hearty breakfast… I have seven meals a day. Then I’ll go and work out. I train in the gym, but I also have a workout trailer on set. The most challenging part of the role is maintaining the look.”

10. Staying cool

Filmed in August 2013 on a colossal outdoor backlot near Budapest, ‘Hercules’ might not be shot in ancient Greece – but it certainly feels like it. With hundreds of mounted extras fighting in full armour, a giant citadel set built to the same dimensions as the Roman coliseum and a sweltering throne room baking in 40C heat, it’s a real challenge to keep everyone cool. Except The Rock, of course, who gets sprayed with fake sweat between takes to keep him glistening.

11. Following his idols

Finally stepping into the sweaty sandals of his mentor and idol Arnold Schwarzenegger (who made his name in the likes of ‘Conan The Barbarian’ and ‘Hercules in New York’), the Hercules role has been Johnson’s dream since he was a kid. “When I was eight years old, I thought I was Stallone, Richard Pryor, Schwarzengger, Harrison Ford in ‘Raiders Of The Lost Ark’ and Steve Reeves in ‘Hercules’… I was all of them.”

12. Staying strong on the inside

“I think what makes a strong man is a willingness to get better,” ponders Johnson after a long pause, “he takes his hits, he falls down – but it’s the ability to get back up and keep moving. It’s about becoming a little bit better every day too. It doesn’t have to be great – it just has to be better than yesterday. That makes a strong man. That, and the ability to down a fifth of good tequila…”

'Hercules' is coming to UK cinemas on 25 July, 2014.

Photo credit - Paramount/Radical Comics/Twitter@TheRock/Trimark