Hercules: The Legend Begins to tell origin story

2014 will see legendary demigod Hercules hit the big screen twice. But Renny Harlin is keen to make the distinction between Hercules: The Legend Begins and Brett Ratner's epic, based on the graphic novel 'Hercules: The Thracian Wars'.

Superherohype reported from New York Comic Con this weekend, at which the director explained that his film will tell Hercules' tale from the very beginning.

[Lutz gets ready for Hercules 3D]

"We wanted to really go to the origins of this character and really start with a young man who doesn't even know that he is Hercules," he said, adding that Herc will face familiar struggles including a dysfunctional family and a troubled love life.

Harlin continued, "One day he starts realising and he's basically told, you're a demigod, you're a son of Zeus, and your mission in life is not just have fun, have some sword fights, and make love to a beautiful girl; your mission is much grander than that and you have a destiny that you have to fulfil in your life.

"He is sent away to war and he has to go on this incredible, long journey through different countries and different cultures until he's able to find his way back home to his love and settle the scores."

But the storyline won't be the only difference between the films. Despite star Kellan Lutz's large physique, Harlin decided he wanted him to have a leaner physique than that often associated with the hero.

[Rourke out, Lutz in for Expendables 3]

"My one advice to Kellan was, because he already looked so awesome, I said, 'Let's not create a stereotype of Hercules who is just a guy with giant muscles and carries big rocks. Let's create a real character.' And I said, 'Get cut. Look great, but I don't want you to be giant.'

"We didn't want to make a movie that is just this brooding guy who's just going from fight to fight, and just being violent and brutish," he continued. "For us, the love story was very much the heart and key to his character and his story."

Hercules: The Legend Begins hits UK cinemas on 8 August, 2014.