Famous actor Ryan Gosling is known for his movies, but he was once part of an extensive television show universe, playing a familiar character. Gosling began his work as a child actor, with his first significant role in the Mickey Mouse Club at 13 years old. Since then, Gosling has become a true movie star, appearing across many genres and big box-office hits. Gosling’s iconic roles earned him many major award nominations and a prominent spot in pop culture. His early experiences on television helped shape his acting style, laying the groundwork for his later successes.

The actor’s films have earned over $2 billion at the box office, with Gosling accruing a significant net worth of his own. His acting skills are also complemented by his singing and dancing abilities, which often appear on-screen. Despite his many talents, some only know Gosling for his prominent roles. However, there is a significant catalog of unknown and forgotten roles from Gosling’s past, extending into his teen years, including his role in this shared hero universe.

Ryan Gosling Played Young Hercules In The Hercules-Xena Universe

He Was The Star Of The 1998 Television Show

Gosling was 17 when he claimed the eponymous role of young Hercules in the 1998 television show. In Young Hercules, the hero struggles to come into his powers and accept his heritage while also dealing with the toils of being a teenager. Based on the real legend of Hercules, the demigod trains under the centaur Cheiron, makes friends and tries to avoid enemies, particularly Ares. Many of the characters were originally introduced in the 1995 show Hercules: The Legendary Journey, of which Young Hercules was a spin-off.

Camera tricks in costuming and makeup were used to make Gosling seem more muscular

Gosling replaced Ian Bohen, who played the child hero in the original series and the show’s pilot. To get ready for the role, Gosling took martial arts classes with the same trainer as the franchise’s other hero actors. Though he trained, camera tricks in costuming and makeup were used to make Gosling seem more muscular, given the notable statue of the character he was playing.

Young Hercules
is available to stream on Roku Channel.

Interestingly, however, Young Hercules became Gosling’s last television role. He claimed it inspired him to focus on the character development side of acting, wanting to take more substantial roles in films. The campiness of the shows and characters act as a good time capsule for fans of Gosling’s acting and the 1990s action fantasy genre.

Hercules-Xena Shared Universe Explained: How All 3 Shows Connected

Hercules: The Legendary Journeys Had Two Spin-Offs

Young Hercules was not the only spin-off from the original show. Xena: Warrior Princess was released the same year as Hercules: The Legendary Journeys. The show initially introduced the character of Xena with plans to shortly kill her off. However, her rising popularity not only saved her but earned her even more screen time by getting awarded with her own series. Xena: Warrior Princess went on to become the most successful of the shows in the franchise, producing six seasons of content and extending past the cancelation of the other two shows.

The three shows exist in what is often referred to as the Xenaverse. However, efforts to include Hercules, a more notable character in the other two shows, have changed the name of the world to “Herc-Xenaverse.” Many of the characters introduced in the original show also recurred in the spin-offs, which feature wide casts of Greek gods and further develop the connections among the shows. Many of the characters were also featured in a direct-to-video animated film titled The Battle for Mount Olympus in 1998. The connected universe allowed for more profound development and storytelling, rewarding a thorough viewing of the whole franchise.

Ryan Gosling’s Young Hercules Was The Franchise’s Least Successful Show

It Was Canceled After Only One Season

The show was a means of reaching a wider audience with the original content, and it did so effectively. Focusing on a child actor, Young Hercules was aimed at much younger audiences than the original show. The show was not notably profound or awe-inspiring, especially compared to the others in the franchise, but its lighter tone worked well for younger audiences. However, its new subject made it harder for fans of the original series to connect with the hero. It was also the only of the three shows to air on Fox Kids Network, making it harder to find and less accessible.

In general, not marketing towards the same audience and tone as its predecessors proved to be Young Hercules’ downfall. The show never earned the same acclaim and was not renewed for a second season. Fortunately, the one season does have 50 episodes, providing plenty of Young Hercules and early Ryan Gosling content for fans. While it may not have achieved lasting success, the series remains a nostalgic piece of television for those who appreciate its unique take on the character.