GERMANY/FILE: Strong man Hercules aka Dwayne (the Rock) Johnson delights German fans

Record ID: 402508

  • Title: GERMANY/FILE: Strong man Hercules aka Dwayne (the Rock) Johnson delights German fans
  • Date: 21st August 2014
  • Summary: "THE ROCK" JOHNSON AND SHAYK UNKNOWN FILM LOCATION (FILE) (PARAMOUNT PICTURES - MUST COURTESY WITH NO ARCHIVAL OR WIRELESS USE AND NO RESALE) FILM TRAILER
  • Embargoed: 5th September 2014 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Germany
  • Country: Germany
  • Reuters ID: LVA1Q3EDWCSNJ50RRVJ9738099MD
  • Story Text: Stars walk the red carpet for the European premiere of "Hercules," starring Dwayne (the Rock) Johnson, John Hurt, Joseph Fiennes and Rebecca Ferguson.


    Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson stars in "Hercules," the latest movie adaptation of the myth of the Greek hero. It's the wrestling-legend-turned-action-star's latest bid for solo superstardom and was directed by Brett Ratner.
    The 'Hercules' movie, made for a brawny $100 million, got mixed reviews, though nearly two-thirds of critics on the site Rotten Tomatoes gave it a "fresh" rating.
    Having endured his legendary twelve labours, Hercules, the Greek demigod, has his life as a sword-for-hire tested when the King of Thrace and his daughter seek his aid in defeating a tyrannical warlord.
    After the loss of his family, Hercules turns his back on the gods finding his only solace in bloody battle, his family now consisting of six similar souls, their only bond being their love of fighting and presence of death.
    But when the king hires him and his mercenaries to train his men to become the greatest army of all time, the bunch of lost souls finally realise how far they have fallen when they must train the army to be as ruthless and blood thirsty as their reputation has become.
    This new addition to the sword-and-sandal genre seems likely to please the audience, taking in 29 million dollars at the North American box office over the first weekend after its Hollywood premiere on July 23rd, but also garnering more than 28 million internationally, making it second on opening weekend behind 'Lucy' in which Scarlett Johansson stars as a woman with a super-powered brain.
    A month after its release in North America, 'Hercules' aims to take the European market by storm as well.
    The Rock himself, Dwayne Johnson, said that he was born to play Hercules. His career as a movie star has allowed him to make movies like 'Hercules', he said.
    "I've had a hell of a career and I love what I do and I'm passionate about what I do," he told journalists at a news conference before the European premiere in Berlin on Thursday (August 21). "And to make a movie like 'Hercules' is an indication I think of that opportunity and that passion and again - to work with everybody who is up here today was really such a ... such a cool thing, and it was such a pleasure. We had a great time, five, six months in Budapest."
    Johnson also was asked about coming in second place to Robert Downey Jr on the Forbes magazine list as the highest-paid actor list for a second year. Johnson takes his second place finish with good humour.
    "Robert Downey Jr, he's been dogging me for a couple of years now. He's been number one, he keeps beating me in these polls every year. But ... yeah, I'll take him next year."
    Downey Jr topped Forbes' list of the Top Earning Actors from June 2013-2014 with an estimated earnings of $75 million while Johnson came in at No. 2 with an estimated $52 million earned.
    Playing opposite the buff wrestling-legend-turned-action-star was intimidating for Aksel Hennie, who plays one of Hercules' band of rascals, Tydeus.
    "Challenging as well is that you're going to be in a movie with Dwayne Johnson," he said. "And you know, you can train as much as you want, you will always look like a matchstick man. That's challenging. Everyday, to wake up and know that's .. even though you train your ass off for like three years, this giant, beautiful warrior is next to you. And I will always be that small little blond dude."
    Ingrid Bolso Berdal, who plays Atalanta, the only woman amongst the mercenaries, said that it was not always easy to 'stand your man' amongst the boys but they made it very easy for her.
    "Because it can be lonely being the only woman in a very male-driven society, even if it's on a film set or if it's a bank or wherever. And it is important to not try to be one of the guys in that sense," she said.
    Walking the red carpet in Berlin for the European premiere almost a month after its North American release, the starpower of the actors was not diminished at all by the film being out for some time.
    And one of the main draws was "The Rock" himself, an actor for the role no director could say no to, as Brett Ratner told Reuters.
    "He called me when he heard I was developing the script and he came to my house. He looked me in the eye and said 'Brett, I was born to play Hercules.' If Dwayne Johnson says that to you, you have to believe him."
    Supermodel-turned-actress Irina Shayk, who plays Hercules' first wife Megara, said that she was intrigued at first in a movie with such big names but felt soon at home.
    "It was great," said Shayk. "You know, to be part of.., a small part of a huge movie, like 'Hercules' is a dream come true. Dwayne and Brett Ratner and John Hurt and all those amazing actors. I mean, I never ever thought that I was going to be a part of this big movie. So I'm very excited."
    "The Rock" - himself almost Herculean in strength - said the more mortal aspects of his character were equally compelling.
    "What I liked about it was the deconstructing of the myth of Hercules. We all know Hercules, we know his myth, his legend, the twelve labours. But what we did in our movie was we stripped it all away. And we asked the question 'what if Hercules was a real man, who cut, who bled,' you yelled and we know he yells. And but yet he did incredible things as a regular human being. And I think that's been the coolest part that fans are really been connected to."
    'Hercules' opens in cinemas in Germany on September 4.
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