Image via Complex Original
1.
If you haven't heard the tale of Hercules outside of the animated Disney version, then you're in for a bloody treat of drama and tragedy. Brett Ratner's adaptation, in theaters this Friday, July 25th, goes way beyond the tale of the strongman's wife, Megara, and picks up on the legend of Herc after the completion of his 12 labors. Dwayne Johnson plays the demi-God, who has the strength of a God but feels the suffering of a human, and is now a sword for hire, traveling with a group of loyal followers.
But it's not just Johnson who's taking Greece and movie theaters by storm. There are four bad-ass women who are going to share that burden with him. Time to get to know these power.
2.Barbara Palvin
Character: Antimache
You've probably seen Palvin around, if you have any interest in the world of modeling and fashion. After being discovered on the streets of Budapest at the age of 13, the Hungarian model walked her fair share of runways and modeled for numerous campaigns. Now she's hanging up her Prada pumps for, um, Greek sandals, and making her acting debut in Hercules as Antimache. She is the Queen of Mycenae, wife of Eurystheus (played by Joseph Fiennes) and the woman who makes Hercules' life a living Fields of Punishment (that's the part of the Underworld that was most like hell—little education for you).
3.Ingrid Bolsø Berdal
Character: Atalanta
Calling it now: Ingrid is going to be the badass of 2014 (sorry, Herc). The Cold Prey and Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunters actress is about to inspire kids across the nation to dress up as her on Halloween. Her character, Atalanta, owes Hercules a blood debt, which is good for him since she's a walking Amazon. Atalanta is basically the Wonder Woman of Greek mythology, and to train for to play her, Berdal spent numerous grueling months with an archery expert. So she's gorgeous, talented, and now, can shoot your eye out. In the Kevin Sarbo version of the Hercules story, he and Atalanta helped make the Olympic Games, but somehow we feel this movie won't be as joyful. More focus on javelins through bodies and less focus on tossing things to win gold medals.
4.Irina Shayk
Character: Megara
Shayk already has it all. She's covered the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Edition, she hosted Russia's version of Top Model, and has numerous modeling campaigns under her belt. Plus, she was in Kayne's "Power" music video. Now a lot more people are going to know her name afters she appears in Hercules as Megara, which according to the myths, is a central part of the story's tragedy, being Herc's first wife and mother of his children. We won't spoil that for you, though. Let's just say a little Goddess named Hera is a home-wrecking, no-good monster, and Hercules loves Megara. And if you've seen the Disney version, Meg's a perfect, tough talking New Yorker, for some reason, who has the ability to steal hearts with inner beauty and humor.
5.Rebecca Ferguson
Character: Ergenia
Ferguson holds a Golden Globe nomination for her work in The White Queen, but Ergenia, in Hercules, will be her big Hollywood film debut. The healer Ergenia, daughter of Lord Cotys, was married off to the King of Thrace, and she vowed to keep her son, the heir to the throne safe—at all costs. Which is really unnerving to say, "at all costs." Like, she's probably willing to murder some people, chuck them in a dungeon, poison, and plan that type of thing. Whatever, don't most mothers feel that way about their kid? It's probably nothing to worry about.