Kellan Lutz with a GQ award on November 7, 2013 in Berlin Photo: CFP

Actor Kellan Lutz is shedding his vampire teeth to don the breastplate of Greek demigod Hercules in his newest film, as he leaves the Twilight franchise behind to embrace the action genre.

The Legend of Hercules, in theaters on Friday, will see Lutz exploring the hero's origins. A second film, Hercules, starring Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson, will focus on the hero later in life.

Born to a mortal woman and Zeus, Lutz's Hercules faces challenges early on in his life from his human father King Amphitryon, who never accepts him as a true son, and his half brother Iphicles, who is jealous of his super strength. Hercules finds himself torn away from his love, Hebe, and sent to war, only to be sold into slavery.

"It's the hero's journey.  You have the wizard, you have the antagonist, that's the king, and you have the different missions he has to go through and the love interest in Princess Hebe. Story-wise, it's all there, that's what drew me to it," Lutz said.

Not that playing a superhero is unfamiliar territory for 28-year-old Lutz, who played Greek god Poseidon in 2011's mythological action film Immortals and has been drawn to the larger-than-life heroes from childhood.

"I knew when I saw the superheroes that I wanted to fight against injustice," he recalls.