Plot

The origin story of the mythical Greek hero. Betrayed by his stepfather, the King, and exiled and sold into slavery because of a forbidden love, Hercules must use his formidable powers to fight his way back to his rightful kingdom.

In Ancient Greece 1200 B.C., a queen succumbs to the lust of Zeus to bear a son promised to overthrow the tyrannical rule of the king and restore peace to a land in hardship. But this prince, Hercules, knows nothing of his real identity or his destiny. He desires only one thing: the love of Hebe, Princess of Crete, who has been promised to his own brother. When Hercules learns of his greater purpose, he must choose: to flee with his true love or to fulfill his destiny and become the true hero of his time. The story behind one of the greatest myths is revealed in this action-packed epic - a tale of love, sacrifice and the strength of the human spirit.—Millennium Entertainment

The origin story of Hercules, mythical Greek hero - the son of Zeus, a half-god, half-man blessed with extraordinary strength. Betrayed by his stepfather, the King, and exiled and sold into slavery because of a forbidden love, Hercules must use his formidable powers to fight his way back to his rightful kingdom. Through harrowing battles and gladiator-arena death matches, Hercules embarks on a legendary odyssey to overthrow the King and restore peace to the land.—Summit Entertainment

Born half-man/half-god and imbued with awe-inspiring superhuman strength, Hercules (Kellan Lutz) falls into a forbidden romance that quickly incurs the wrath of his calculating stepfather, the King. Subsequently exiled and forced into slavery, the heroic Hercules fights for his life as a gladiator, and vows to free his people from the tyranny of the evil monarch..

In ancient Greece around 1200 BC, King Amphitryon (Scott Adkins) of Tiryns invades the shores of Argos. Amphitryon's army invades the fort of Argos and gets deep inside, close to the King's palace.

The two massive armies face each other, prepared for battle. Amphitryon strikes a bargain with the rival King Galenus (Dimiter Doichinov) that the two will fight to the death, to the victor goes his adversary's kingdom and army. The two engage in combat and Amphitryon easily defeats Galenus and seizes his kingdom. The vast army of Galenus accepts their defeat and bows to their new King.

That night, Amphitryon is visited by his estranged wife, Queen Alcmene (Roxanne Mckee). He boasts he won the kingdom for her, while she protests that he won the kingdom for himself and its gold. Alcmene is disgusted by her husband's thirst for power and warmongering. She says that Argos was their neighbor and presented no threat. Alcmene travels to a temple and prays to Hera for guidance. She says that Amphitryon's thirst for power only grows with each conquest. Amphitryon's wars have brought only anguish upon the land. She prays for deliverance from the curse of her king and husband. A woman appears declaring herself to be Hera, wife of Zeus, and prophecies that Alcmene will bear the son of Zeus (after Alcmene refuses to bear another child from Amphitryon), and he will be the savior of her people. For the sake of peace, Hera permits her husband Zeus to take Alcmene as a lover. Hera says that she would know the boy as Hercules. The only other witness to this is Chiron (Rade Serbedzija), the queen's loyal adviser.

That night, as Amphitryon celebrates his victory, Alcmene is visited by Zeus (who is not visible). Hera's husband Zeus impregnates Alcmene with the savior of her people, a Demi-God son to be named Hercules. She is discovered by Amphitryon who believes the Queen has taken a mortal lover. Alcmene soon gives birth to a healthy baby boy named Alcides (Kellan Lutz), but she secretly acknowledges his true name: Hercules. Amphitryon declares that Alcides would never be an equal to his older brother Iphicles.

Twenty years later, a strong and handsome Hercules/Alcides rides along the countryside with his love, Hebe (Gaia Weiss). They frolic along the shore of a secluded lake. Alcides admires Hebe's necklace which was given to her by her mother; she in turn bestows the necklace to Alcides. The two are discovered by Alcides' older brother, Iphicles (Liam Garrigan).

A search party was dispatched to look for Hebe, a princess of Crete. Iphicles takes them both to the search party. Hebe is informed that there is a feast at the palace that night, and she must not be late. Hebe returns to the palace along with her guard while Alcides and Iphicles follow, riding behind. Along the way the two are attacked by an unusually strong Nemean lion. Alcides wanted Iphicles to escape as he tried to engage the lion long enough, but Iphicles did not want Alcides to have all the glory and refuses to retreat. He soon realizes that their weapons are useless against the lion's thick hide. Alcides wrestles with the lion, strangling it.

Iphicles takes all the credit and arrives at the royal banquet wearing the lion's pelt as a cloak. He attempts to humiliate Alcides, calling him a coward (and says that Alcides ran away at the first sight of danger) but Hebe sees right through him. At the banquet Amphitryon announces the engagement of Hebe and Iphicles. The two lovers are devastated and decide to run away together. They are chased down by the royal guard and as a result Hebe falls into a raging river. Hebe nearly drowns before being saved by Alcides. But due to this distraction, both Alcides and Hebe are captured by the soldiers. Alcides is taken back to the palace and is sent away by his father to join a campaign of soldiers to Egypt. Alcides is given a mission to curb a revolt in Heliopolis, north of the Nile River Delta. Amphitryon wants Alcides to assure Iphicles that Hebe is pure, but Alcides retorts that it is none of their business. Iphicles attacks Alcides, but he easily brushes him aside.

As Alcides prepares for his journey, Alcmene tells him of his true lineage. Alcides believes it is madness and departs for his journey vowing to return to Hebe in three moons before her impending nuptials. Alcides, under the command of Captain Sotiris (Liam McIntyre), traverses the arid Egyptian desert. Sotiris sends two scouts ahead to scour the path ahead through a cave, but they never return. Sotiris takes 20 men, including Alcides into the cave, but they find 2 dead bodies hanging on the other end. When they return, they find the rest of the company annihilated. The 20 men are surrounded by soldiers from both sides of the cave, leaving no exit.

The company is ambushed, leaving Alcides and Sotiris as the last survivors. The leader of the ambush recovers Alcides' helmet and demands to know where the prince is. Sotiris gestures to the body of a slain soldier, saying he is Alcides. Alcides refers to himself as Hercules to protect his identity. It is revealed that Amphitryon planned the ambush in hopes of killing Hercules.

The two are sold off as slaves to a vicious promoter Lucius (Kenneth Cranham) who organizes gladiator style fights. Sotiris and Hercules fight to death with other slaves and soon become undefeated. Sotiris and Hercules convince the promoter to send them to Greece in order to fight in an arena battle in which two gladiators fight six undefeated gladiators. If the promoter were to bet on Hercules and Sotiris, he would have riches beyond his wildest dreams. The promoter agrees to take Sotiris and Hercules if they are able to defeat two other gladiators, Half Face and Humbaba (Spencer Wilding). The four are thrown into an arena, with narrow stone paths divided by pits studded with spikes. Hercules defeats Half Face and Humbaba, but Sotiris is injured. The promoter refuses to take Sotiris, since he will be useless in battle, but Hercules convinces him to set Sotiris free and he will fight all six gladiators himself.

Back in Greece, When Alcides does not return as promised, Alcmene and Hebe assume he is dead. Alcmene and Hebe mourn the death of Hercules. Alcmene once again seeks guidance from Hera. Amphitryon discovers her and confronts her about Hercules' parentage. She reveals she took Zeus as her lover so that she would bear the child that would overthrow him, after which tries to stab Amphitryon, but fails. In anger, Amphitryon stabs Alcmene with her own dagger. Chiron discovers them and Amphitryon tells him the Queen committed suicide in her grief.

Meanwhile, Hercules arrives in Greece and easily bests the six gladiators in battle. The people celebrate his victory and deserters of Amphitryon's army join him and Sotiris. Chiron brings Hercules' news of his mother, who vows to avenge her death. Sotiris and Hercules seek refuge in the home of the human vessel of Hera, who foretells Hercules' destiny.

Hebe is in anguish after the death of Alcides and dreads her wedding to Iphicles, in just two moons. She tries to leap off the roof of the palace but is saved by Chiron who brings her to Hercules. The two are reunited and return to Hercules' safe house. Amphitryon's army begins to desert him, forcing him to hire foreign mercenaries. Hercules and Sotiris begin a fight against Amphitryon's campaign of tyranny, angering Amphitryon who seeks to destroy them.

Iphicles, aided by the mercenaries, murders Sotiris' wife and uses his son as a bargaining chip. He must lead them to Hercules, or his son will die. Sotiris reluctantly leads them to the safe house. Iphicles discovers that Hercules is none other than his brother Alcides. Hercules, Chiron, and Hebe are captured. Sotiris and Chiron are imprisoned while Hercules is chained and publicly flogged.

Sotiris and Chiron are brought before the crowd. Hercules watches on in horror as Iphicles murders Chiron under Amphitryon's orders. In anguish he acknowledges his father and calls upon him for strength. Hercules breaks free from his chains and crushes Amphitryon's guard. Amphitryon and Iphicles escape.

Hercules and Sotiris raise an army and storm Amphitryon's palace. Amphitryon's guard join Hercules and his army, and they battle Amphitryon's mercenaries. Hercules calls upon his father who infuses his sword with the power of lightning. Hercules easily defeats the mercenaries with his lightning sword. He meets Amphitryon inside and the two duel. Hercules nearly defeats Amphitryon, but Iphicles holds Hebe hostage and threatens to kill her if Hercules does not let Amphitryon go. Hercules hesitates but Hebe thrusts the dagger through her shoulder, killing Iphicles. Hercules finally avenges Alcmene's death and kills Amphitryon with the same blade that killed his mother. Hercules rushes to Hebe's side as she slowly drifts into unconsciousness.

Nearly a year later, the cries of a baby are heard. Hebe gives birth to a beautiful baby boy. Hercules looks on lovingly at his new family. That night, he watches over his kingdom, finally fulfilling his destiny.