Nathaniel Lees, Michael Hurst & Paolo Rotondo in "Young Hercules" (1998)

Wednesday, November 18, 2009

Nathaniel Lees, Michael Hurst & Paolo Rotondo in "Young Hercules" (1998)

Not to be confused with the television series with the same name, "Young Hercules" is a prequel film to the hit action adventure series "Hercules: The Legendary Journeys." As such, it features many of the same actors from that series. The development of the "Young Hercules" series would later employ many of these actors as well. Nathaniel Lees (Master Mao, Jungle Fury) has played the role of Cheiron the Centaur in all three incarnations. Here, we see a young Hercules arrive for the first time at the warrior academy run by Cheiron so that he can hone his skills and become a better hero. While there, Hercules befriends his future comrades Iolaus and Jason, the Prince of Corinth. Also attending the academy is Enya, a young warrior portrayed by Mystic Force voice actor Paolo Rotondo (voice of Snow Prince, Mystic Force). When the teens go on a hunt for the Golden Fleece to cure Jason's ill father, Enya is part of the ship's crew. However, Hercules' evil half-brother Ares interferes along the way, causing many of the young crew to be killed, including Enya who is thrown overboard. "Hercules: The Legendary Journeys" star Michael Hurst (voice of Vexacus, Ninja Storm) has a cameo early in the film, playing a disfigured jewel vendor who interacts with the young Iolaus (the character Hurst played on "Hercules"). When Iolaus fakes his death to steal from the Jeweler, he is duped.

Nathaniel Lees