Epic Heroes on Screen

This is the first collection to look at the most recent manifestations of the ancient hero on screen. It brings together a range of perspectives on twenty-first century cinematic representations of heroes from the ancient world. Since 2000, numerous heroes of the ancient world have appeared on film and TV, from the mythical Hercules to leaders of the Greek and Roman worlds. Films and shows discussed in this volume range from Hercules and The Legend of Hercules to TV shows, Atlantis and Supernatural, to other biopic works influenced by the ancient hero. This book brings together a range of perspectives on twenty-first century cinematic representations of heroes and antiheroes from the ancient world. Key features: Includes a range of TV shows and films, allowing for greater comparative analysis, examining the overlooked links between various productions Original, cutting edge research in the fields of history, politics, gender, film and fan culture. Covers topics including society, politics, generational issues, gender, fan reception and star texts Also considers the creation of antiheroes in the twenty-first century. Contributors include Alastair Blanshard, Angeline Chiu, Jon Solomon and Emma Stafford