The film version came about after businessman Phil Jaroslow saw a "Double Take" performance of "Hercules Returns" in Melbourne. He was so impressed that he purchased the rights to both the original "Ercole" film and Mangan's script, hired cinematographer and film maker David Parker to help write a story to wrap around the Double Take routine, and financed the project with his own funds. Although it was his first film as a producer and Parker's first as a director, the project came in on time and on budget at a cost of less than A$1 million, and shooting was completed in just eight days.