As the demigod son of a mortal woman and Zeus, ruler of Olympus and god of thunder, Hercules is one of the strongest mythological figures in the entire Greek pantheon. Between the legendary Twelve Labors — which involve many feats of strength — and his many other adventures, Hercules is about as far from a pushover as it gets. In order to get this image across, Johnson trained every part of his body. His goal: to make Hercules seem as "big and mean" as possible (via bodybuilding.com).
Six months before production commenced, Johnson began approaching his workouts more intensely than ever. He worked out for approximately an hour and a half each day, taking only one day off per week to rest. He would kick things off with cardio, then wrap up by choosing to exercise only specific muscles or body parts. Johnson also changed the way he ate, balancing out carbs and protein and ensuring he got all the right vitamins.
The end result is what you see in Hercules: not just a bulky hulk, but an enormous warrior of old with the physique to back up the title. One look at his intimidating form is enough to tell anyone that he's unmatched on the battlefield. Even Johnson's biggest fans have to admit that it's not really Johnson anymore: He embodies the myth, becoming the definitive on-screen version of the powerful demigod.
Much like Hercules, Johnson has established quite a legend for himself. Part of it has to do with his charisma on and off screen, but his dedication and unabashed commitment to everything he does certainly helps. The admiration of his fans is well deserved.
