McShane, Fiennes, Hurt and Ferguson Join HERCULES

Adaptation lands four new additions.

Ian McShane (‘Jack the Giant Slayer,’ ‘Deadwood’), Joseph Fiennes (‘American Horror Story: Asylum,’ ‘Enemy at the Gates’), veteran actor John Hurt (‘Snowpiercer,’ ‘Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy’) and Swedish actress Rebecca Ferguson (‘Wallander,’ ‘A One-Way Trip to Antibes’) have become the latest additions to the Brett Ratner’s comic-book adaptation ‘Hercules.’

Based on the graphic novel ‘Hercules: The Thracian Wars’ by Steve Moore, the big budget epic has Dwayne Johnson attached to play the eponymous hero, who, after renouncing his mythological origins, is now living in exile, fighting as a mercenary for hire alongside his loyal but weary comrades. Hercules, along with his crew, will face his most challenging labour yet when one battle forces the man behind the myth to question everything he once believed, and reconsider the truth behind his own legend.

According to THR, McShane is set for the role of Amphiaraus, “part priest, part prophet and part warrior who is Hercules’ counsellor.” Fiennes will be playing the pampered king of Athens who assigns Hercules his labours, with Hurt playing the weary ruler of Thrace.

dThe film, scripted by Ryan Condal and Evan Spiliotopoulos, will be co-produced between Paramount Pictures and MGM with release set for July 2014. In a statement, President of MGM’s motion picture group, Jonathan Glickman, said: “We are thrilled to surround Dwayne with an ensemble cast featuring legendary actors as well as some of the finest emerging talents working today. We are anxious to get production underway on what promises to be a high-action film that works around the globe.”