Hercules: The Legendary Journeys

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Hercules: The Legendary Journeys
Hercules titles.jpg
Opening sequence logo
Genre
Created by Christian Williams
Robert Tapert
Starring
Theme music composer Joseph LoDuca
ComposerJoseph LoDuca
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
No. of seasons6
No. of episodes111 (+ 5 pilot television movies) (list of episodes)
Production
Producers
Running time41–44 minutes
Production companiesRenaissance Pictures
Universal Television
Original release
Network Syndication
ReleaseJanuary 16, 1995 (1995-01-16) 
November 22, 1999 (1999-11-22)
Related

Hercules: The Legendary Journeys is an American fantasy television series filmed in New Zealand, based on the tales of the classical Greco-Roman culture hero Heracles (Hercules was his Roman analogue). Starring Kevin Sorbo as Hercules and Michael Hurst as Iolaus, it was produced from January 16, 1995, to November 22, 1999. It ran for six seasons, producing action figures and other memorabilia as it became one of the highest-rated syndicated television shows in the world at that time. It has aired on Once Channel, [1] Sky1, five/5, Heroes & Icons, and Horror.

Contents

It was preceded by five TV movies in 1994, with the same major characters, and was part of Universal Media Studios's Action Pack. They are, in order of appearance: Hercules and the Amazon Women , Hercules and the Lost Kingdom , Hercules and the Circle of Fire , Hercules in the Underworld , and Hercules in the Maze of the Minotaur , the last of which served mostly as a "clip show" of the previous movies as a lead up to the series. The show was cancelled midway through filming of the sixth season, and only a total of eight episodes were produced after Sorbo initially declined to renew a three-year extension contract to continue his role as Hercules. [2]

Plot

Kevin Sorbo as Hercules (left) and Michael Hurst as Iolaus Hercules Iolaus.jpg
Kevin Sorbo as Hercules (left) and Michael Hurst as Iolaus

"This is the story of a time long ago, a time of myth and legend, when the ancient gods were petty and cruel, and they plagued mankind with suffering. Only one man dared to challenge their power: Hercules!

Hercules possessed a strength the world had never seen, a strength surpassed only by the power of his heart. He journeyed the earth, battling the minions of his wicked stepmother Hera, the all-powerful queen of the gods.

But wherever there is evil, whenever an innocent would suffer, there would be Hercules!"

— Opening narration.

The series is set in a fantasy version of ancient Greece not precisely located in historical time. The show also has a mixture of Oriental, Egyptian and Medieval elements in various episodes. The series stars Kevin Sorbo as Hercules and regularly features Michael Hurst as his sidekick Iolaus. Rotating as Hercules' other regular companion, particularly in earlier seasons, is Salmoneus (Robert Trebor), a wheeler-dealer ever looking to make a quick drachma.

Typical plot lines involve Hercules and Iolaus saving rustic villagers from monsters, evil warlords, or the often selfish whims of the gods. There was also comedy and episodes often had "in-jokes" about modern themes.

In the earlier episodes as mentioned in the show's opening title, Hercules' main nemesis is his evil stepmother Hera, the powerful queen of the gods who seeks to destroy Hercules using various monsters and helping her various followers because he is a reminder of her husband Zeus' infidelity. As the series progressed, a wider range of enemies was used; notably Hercules' half-brother, the malicious god of war Ares replaced Hera as the show's primary antagonist. Towards the end of the series, Ares is himself replaced by the evil god Dahak who is the main villain in the show's fifth season and sets off a story arc that has Hercules traveling to Sumeria, Norseland and Éire. Although Zeus, Hercules' father, is frequently cited by Hercules as a neglectful father, Zeus' love for Hercules is well documented in the show. Indeed, Hercules is often referred to as "the favorite son of Zeus". Zeus makes several appearances on the show, even saving his son's life and restoring his superhuman strength on one occasion when he needs it the most. Hercules, for his own part, is always there for Zeus when his father needs him, and in the end, Hercules reconciles with his father and buries whatever issues he has with the father he has come to understand and love.

Cast

Main cast

Recurring cast

Episodes

SeasonEpisodesOriginally aired
First airedLast aired
TV films 5April 25, 1994 (1994-04-25)November 14, 1994 (1994-11-14)
1 13January 16, 1995 (1995-01-16)May 8, 1995 (1995-05-08)
2 24September 4, 1995 (1995-09-04)June 24, 1996 (1996-06-24)
3 22September 30, 1996 (1996-09-30)May 12, 1997 (1997-05-12)
4 22September 29, 1997 (1997-09-29)May 11, 1998 (1998-05-11)
5 22September 28, 1998 (1998-09-28)May 17, 1999 (1999-05-17)
6 8September 27, 1999 (1999-09-27)November 22, 1999 (1999-11-22)

Spin-offs

The show had two spin-offs: Xena: Warrior Princess and Young Hercules , with which it shared recurring characters such as Ares (Kevin Smith), Autolycus (Bruce Campbell), Salmoneus (Robert Trebor), Aphrodite (Alexandra Tydings), Deimos/Strife (Joel Tobeck) and Callisto (Hudson Leick). Both shows, although produced in New Zealand with mostly local actors using American accents, were syndicated worldwide.

Home media

Anchor Bay Entertainment released all six seasons of Hercules: The Legendary Journeys on DVD in Region 1 for the first time between 2003 and 2005. As of 2010, these releases have now been discontinued.

On January 12, 2010, Universal Studios Home Entertainment announced that they planned on re-releasing Hercules: The Legendary Journeys on DVD. They have subsequently re-released all six seasons.

In Region 4, Madman Entertainment has released all six seasons on DVD in Australia.

SeasonEp #Release Dates
Region 1Region 4
Season 113June 24, 2003
April 20, 2010 (re-release)
September 9, 2009 [3]
Season 224October 21, 2003
March 29, 2011 (re-release)
February 17, 2010 [4]
Season 322March 23, 2004
March 13, 2012 (re-release)
June 2, 2010 [5]
Season 422July 13, 2004
March 12, 2013 (re-release)
November 3, 2010 [6]
Season 522January 11, 2005
July 22, 2014 (re-release)
N/A
Season 68July 12, 2005
September 18, 2018 (re-release)
N/A
Seasons 5 & 630N/AJanuary 12, 2011 [7]

In other media

Books

A trilogy of novels was written by Timothy Boggs in 1996 and 1997. [8] A juvenile novel by Hunter Kennedy, Hercules and the Geek of Greece was published in 1999. [9]

Comics

A five issue mini-series was published by Topps in 1996, the same year they also published a trading card set. [10] [11]

Games

The franchise produced a number of games in different formats including a collectable card game and a video game for the Nintendo 64 and Game Boy Color. There was also a role playing game which was combined with sister series Xena: Warrior Princess

A board game was also published in 1998 by Fanpro. [12]

Animation

Hercules and Xena – The Animated Movie: The Battle for Mount Olympus is a 1998 American animated action-adventure direct-to-video film starring the voices of Kevin Sorbo, Lucy Lawless, Michael Hurst, Renee O'Connor, Kevin Smith, and Alexandra Tydings, all reprising their roles from Hercules: The Legendary Journeys and Xena: Warrior Princess . It was directed by Lynne Naylor and written by John Loy. It later received a television airing on Fox's Fox Kids block. The movie's plot involved Hercules and Xena joining forces to save the Gods of Olympus from the Titans.

Amusement park attractions

Hercules & Xena: Wizards of the Screen was an interactive theme park attraction that was open in Universal Studios from 1997 to 2000.

Legacy

The success of the show led to the commissioning of several similar series, also set in the ancient world, including The Adventures of Sinbad , Conan the Adventurer , The New Adventures of Robin Hood , BeastMaster , Tarzan: The Epic Adventures , and Jack of All Trades . A sci-fi series, Cleopatra 2525 , was also produced as a result of the series' influence. Thirteen years later, Legend of the Seeker was produced by the same team.

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Xena</span> Fictional character from the TV series "Xena: Warrior Princess"

Xena is a fictional character from the Xena: Warrior Princess franchise, portrayed by New Zealand actress Lucy Lawless and co-created by Robert Tapert and John Schulian. She first appeared as a villain in the 1995–1999 television series Hercules: The Legendary Journeys before joining forces with Hercules. Xena was popular with fans, so the producers decided to create a spin-off with the character in the starring role. She later appeared in the subsequent comic book of the same name, as well as the spin-off animated film The Battle for Mount Olympus, and non-canon expanded universe material, such as books and video games.

<i>Xena: Warrior Princess</i> American fantasy television series (1995–2001)

Xena: Warrior Princess is an American fantasy television series filmed in New Zealand, which aired in first-run syndication from September 4, 1995, to June 18, 2001. Critics have praised the series for its strong female protagonist, and it has acquired a strong cult following, attention in fandom, parody, and academia, and has influenced the direction of other television series.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kevin Sorbo</span> American actor (born 1958)

Kevin David Sorbo is an American actor and producer. He has had starring roles in two television series: as Hercules in Hercules: The Legendary Journeys (1995–1999) and as Captain Dylan Hunt in Andromeda (2000–2005). In between his years playing Hercules, Sorbo played his first leading film role in the 1997 fantasy film Kull the Conqueror.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kevin Smith (New Zealand actor)</span> New Zealand actor and musician

Kevin Tod Smith was a New Zealand actor and musician, best known for starring as the Greek god of war, Ares, in the TV series Hercules: The Legendary Journeys and in its two spin-offs – Xena: Warrior Princess and Young Hercules.

<i>Young Hercules</i> American/New Zealand television series

Young Hercules is a prequel series to the television series Hercules: The Legendary Journeys that originally aired on Fox Kids Network. It premiered on September 12, 1998 and ended on May 14, 1999, with a total of 50 episodes over the course of 1 season. It stars Ryan Gosling in the title role, who took over for Ian Bohen who starred in the pilot movie and four episodes of Hercules: The Legendary Journeys. The series was inspired by the Greek myths of Heracles.

Michael Eric Hurst ONZM is a British-born New Zealand actor, director and writer. He is known internationally for acting in the television programs Hercules: The Legendary Journeys and companion series Xena: Warrior Princess as Iolaus. Most recently, he is known for his role in directing the Starz series Spartacus: Blood and Sand and Ash vs Evil Dead.

Robert Trebor is an American character actor, known for starring as Salmoneus in the television series Hercules: The Legendary Journeys and Xena: Warrior Princess.

<i>Hercules and the Amazon Women</i> 1994 television film

Hercules and the Amazon Women is the first television movie in the syndicated fantasy series Hercules: The Legendary Journeys and marked the debut of Kevin Sorbo as the titular character Hercules and co-starred Anthony Quinn, Michael Hurst, Roma Downey and Lucy Lawless.

Hercules and the Lost Kingdom is the second television movie in the syndicated fantasy series Hercules: The Legendary Journeys.

<i>Hercules: The Legendary Journeys</i> (video game) 2001 video game

Hercules: The Legendary Journeys is a video game developed by Player 1 and published by Titus Interactive for the Nintendo 64 in 2000 and developed and published by Titus Interactive for the Game Boy Color in 2001. The game is licensed from the 1995 television series of the same name, and the Game Boy Color title was released by Titus Interactive alongside Xena: Warrior Princess in the same month, with both games having linked features using the Game Link Cable.

<i>Hercules and the Circle of Fire</i> 1994 television film

Hercules and the Circle of Fire is the third television movie in the syndicated fantasy series Hercules: The Legendary Journeys.

Hercules in the Maze of the Minotaur is the fifth and final television movie in the syndicated fantasy series Hercules: The Legendary Journeys.

<i>Hercules and Xena – The Animated Movie: The Battle for Mount Olympus</i> 1998 American film

Hercules and Xena – The Animated Movie: The Battle for Mount Olympus is a 1998 American animated action-adventure direct-to-video film starring the voices of Kevin Sorbo, Lucy Lawless, Michael Hurst, Renee O'Connor, Kevin Smith and Alexandra Tydings, all reprising their roles from the two live-action/special effects television series, Hercules: The Legendary Journeys and Xena: Warrior Princess. In the film, Zeus' wife Hera releases the four Titans after eons of imprisonment in a fit of jealousy, prompting Hercules and Xena to join forces and stop her. The film was produced and directed by Lynne Naylor.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Heracles in popular culture</span> Mythological hero

Heracles, also known as Hercules, is a Greek and Roman mythological hero known for his strength and far-ranging adventures. He is one of the most commonly portrayed figures from classical mythology in the popular culture of the 20th and 21st centuries.

Mythic Warriors is a 1998-2000 anthology animated television series, which featured retellings of popular Greek myths that were altered so as to be appropriate for younger audiences, produced by Nelvana and Marathon Media. Two seasons of episodes were produced in February 8, 1998 and March 14, 1999; then aired as reruns until May 21, 2000, when CBS' abolition of its Nelvana-produced children's programming in favor of Nick Jr. and later, Nickelodeon content resulted in its cancellation. The series was based on the book series Myth Men Guardians of the Legend written in 1996 and 1997 by Laura Geringer and illustrated by Peter Bollinger.

<i>Xena: Warrior Princess</i> season 1 Season of television series

The first season of the television series Xena: Warrior Princess commenced airing in the United States and Canada on September 4, 1995, concluded on July 29, 1996, and contained 24 episodes. It introduces Gabrielle, the series co-star, beside Xena, previously a secondary character in the TV series Hercules: The Legendary Journeys. Gabrielle becomes Xena's greatest ally; her initial naiveté helps to balance Xena and assists her in recognizing and pursuing the "greater good."

<i>Xena: Warrior Princess</i> season 3 Season of television series

The third season of the television series Xena: Warrior Princess commenced airing in the United States and Canada on September 29, 1997, concluded on May 11, 1998, and contained 22 episodes.

Ares has appeared frequently in modern popular culture; he usually appears as the ancient Greek god of war in the most generally familiar classical mythology.

Joel Tobeck is an actor known for his roles in the television series Tangle, The Doctor Blake Mysteries, Xena Warrior Princess, Hercules: The Legendary Journeys, and Young Hercules and Sons of Anarchy. In 2016 Tobeck began performing as the demon Baal on the show Ash vs Evil Dead.

References

  1. Research Hercules: the Legendary Journeys. BookRags.com. 2010-11-02. Retrieved 2013-11-01.
  2. "Kevin Sorbo interview". 2007-10-09. Retrieved 2015-02-13.
  3. "Buy Hercules: The Legendary Journeys - Season 1 (7 Disc Box Set) on DVD-Video from". EzyDVD.com.au. Archived from the original on 2010-02-01. Retrieved 2013-11-01.
  4. "Buy Hercules: The Legendary Journeys - Season 2 (7 Disc Box Set) on DVD-Video from". EzyDVD.com.au. Archived from the original on 2010-03-04. Retrieved 2013-11-01.
  5. "Buy Hercules: The Legendary Journeys - Season 3 (7 Disc Box Set) on DVD-Video from". EzyDVD.com.au. Archived from the original on 2012-07-29. Retrieved 2013-11-01.
  6. "Buy Hercules: The Legendary Journeys - Season 4 (7 Disc Box Set) on DVD-Video from". EzyDVD.com.au. Archived from the original on 2010-09-16. Retrieved 2013-11-01.
  7. "Buy Hercules: The Legendary Journeys - The Final Seasons: Season 5 & 6 (10 Disc Box Set) on DVD-Video from". EzyDVD.com.au. Archived from the original on 2010-11-15. Retrieved 2013-11-01.
  8. Hercules: The Legendary Journeys
  9. Hercules and the Geek of Greece : a novel
  10. Hercules: The Legendary Journeys
  11. 1996 Topps Hercules The Legendary Journeys
  12. Hercules: The Legendary Journeys