Dwayne Johnson’s ascension in Hollywood has birthed intriguing films and projects.

However, one specific endeavor appears to have slipped into oblivion. For this movie, Johnson had to go through a strict regimen, which required him to train “harder than ever” for eight months. Despite the efforts that underlined the film, a sequel never materialized. Hopes for a potential franchise were never brought to fruition.

Dwayne Johnson in Hercules (2014)

The project we are talking about is Hercules. The action-adventure fantasy film was helmed by Brett Ratner and featured Johnson in the leading role as the muscular demi-god. The narrative reaped mixed reviews and fared moderately at the box office. To prepare for the part, the former professional wrestler adapted a training procedure that took a mental and physical toll on him. Despite such obstacles, the Black Adam actor confirmed that he would gladly do it again.

Dwayne Johnson in Hercules (2014)
Ahead of the 2014 film’s release, Johnson took to Instagram (via Muscle & Fitness) to elaborate on the grueling training he had to undertake to transform into the role. The preparation lasted eight months. The actor once shut himself away in Budapest for six months while filming to get into the character. His commitment was astonishing. Following was his statement:

“I trained and worked harder than ever for 8 months for this role. Lived alone and locked myself away (like a moody 260-lb. monk) in Budapest for 6 months while filming. Goal was to completely transform into this character. Disappear in the role. Press journalist asked me today, with the mental & physical toll the role had on me, would I do it again? Not only would I do it again… I’d do it f*cking twice.”

Dwayne Johnson’s relentless training

According to USA Today, director Brett Ratner was particularly impressed by the star’s poise and self-control. To no avail, the director would taunt Johnson on set as follows:

“He [Johnson] had worked out long before I was thinking about getting up. I would taunt him with chocolate on the set. Nothing. I have never seen such discipline.”

Dwayne Johnson considered the notion of a sequel to the 2014 picture when it was broached in an interview. He predicted that if people responded positively to the film, the possibility of a sequel would become a reality.

Dwayne Johnson talked about a potential sequel.

In an interview with Total Film, the cast of Hercules was questioned on what they would like to see in a potential sequel. Entertaining the idea of a follow-up adventure, the leading star of the Herculean endeavor had the following to comment:

“One of the best parts about Hercules is the Greek mythology. So, I think if people respond to this and they like it, which early test screenings have indicated that they may like it, then there’s such a rich history and mythology that we can play with.”

Although fans of the WWE icon hoped for an additional installment, it never came to fruition. Many believe that Johnson’s “would-be franchise” never gained momentum as the critical reception to Ratner’s film was mixed. Some praised it, while others expressed indifference. The movie has an approval rating of 58% on Rotten Tomatoes. The audience score is even lower, standing at 48%. The film’s box-office returns were not terrible by any means. It managed to procure a worldwide gross of $244.8 million against a budget of $100 million.

No hopes for Hercules 2?

However, the box office return may not have been sufficient for the studios to settle on a sequel, let alone a full-fledged franchise. Nobody knows why the notion of a sequel for the 2014 film faded into obscurity. It has been 9 years since Hercules. Would a follow-up film featuring Dwayne Johnson’s portrayal of the demi-god ever happen? Fans can only hope.

Hercules (2014) is available on Amazon Prime Video via buying/renting.