One of the first things announced when MGM got new management a few months ago was they were pushing forwards with a movie about Hercules. Now Vulture reports that Brett Ratner has entered into negotiations to direct Hercules: The Thracian Wars for MGM and Spyglass Entertainment, based on the Radical Publishing comic.
Last July the Rush Hour helme was in talks to direct a different Hercules project for producer Avi Lerner, although that project fell through. However he’s obviously a big fan of the Greek mythological figure as he’s now moved across to this one.
Hercules: The Thracian Wars was previously set up at Universal Pictures, with Peter Berg attached to direct. Spyglass was still producing it though, and now that company is essentially running MGM, the project will be produced through that studio.
Ryan Condal wrote the script for Hercules: The Thracian Wars, which is based on the comic book series created by Steve Moore.
Here’s the official synopsis for the Radical Publishing comic book below, “Fourteen hundred years ago, a tormented soul walked the earth that was neither man nor god. Hercules was the powerful son of the god king Zeus, for this he received nothing but suffering his entire life. After twelve arduous labors and the loss of his family, this dark, world-weary soul turned his back on the gods finding his only solace in bloody battle. Over the years he warmed to the company of six similar souls, their only bond being their love of fighting and presence of death. These men and woman never question where they go to fight or why or whom, just how much they will be paid. Now the King of Thrace has hired these mercenaries to train his men to become the greatest army of all time. It is time for this bunch of lost souls to finally have their eyes opened to how far they have fallen when they must train an army to become as ruthless and blood thirsty as their reputation has become.”