Lucy Lawless originally auditioned for the role of the Amazon Queen. Producer Eric Gruendemann said about the audition tapes that she had a power, a presence, and maturity despite only being 25 years old. However, the producers, including Lucy's future husband, Rob Tapert, were reluctant to cast a Kiwi. The role eventually went to Roma Downey. Lucy, however, did get the role of Lysia, second-in-command to the Amazon Queen. Source: Hercules The Legendary Journeys, The Official Companion by Robert Weisbrot. Pages 125-126.
Lucy Lawless later reappeared in the television series as recurring antagonist Xena, which the character was given her spin-off series Xena: Warrior Princess (1995). Roma Downey was considered for that role, but she ended up acting as Monica in the religious fantasy drama series Touched by an Angel (1994). Coincidentally, Hudson Leick (who was well known as Callisto) appears in two shows. Leick portrayed her role in Xena as Callisto and Touched by an Angel as Celeste in two episodes in 1997.
Robert Chapin was offered the role of Hercules prior to Kevin Sorbo. Chapin, who was already working on his own film - Ring of Steel (1994) - turned the offer down because he considered the script atrocious.
The first of five "Made-For-Television" movies released throughout 1994 and spun-off into it's own TV series in 1995.
Simone Kessell's debut.