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See articles on this page for current news, or click the links below to explore Michael's career:

Recent Projects
Future Projects & Appearances

 

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Michael Hurst Now.com

This website was created to showcase the post-Hercules career of New Zealand actor and director, Michael Hurst.  We will also announce the professional activities of Michael's wife, Jennifer Ward-Lealand . . . More


CURRENT PROJECTS INDEX
(click a title below for more info)

* A CHARMED LIFE
* ARMAGEDDON EXPO WELLINGTON

* BITCH SLAP

* BUZZY BEE
* CAMPBELL LIVE
* GHOST TRAIN
* LEGEND OF THE SEEKER
* THE MAP READER

* SCREENTALK INTERVIEW
* SPARTCUS

ARCHIVE INDEX
See our new ALPHABETICAL INDEX to quickly find information, pictures, programs, etc. for Michael's earlier projects.

AVAILABLE ON DVD

  

WHAT'S NEW ON THE SITE?



Check our new page for Armageddon Expo in Wellington (photos thanks to Stripe, President of the International Kevin Sorbo Fan Club)



WHAT'S NEW ON THE SITE
Click links below to access respective pages.

2 July  Added Ghost Train to homepage

1 July   Added Legend of the Seeker airing in the UK to hompage

29 June   Added The Map Reader on dvd to homepage

27 June  Added Armageddon Expo in Wellington page; added pic of Dorable Duck to homepage

16 June Added A Charmed Life and Buzzy Bee dvd info to homepage

9 June  Added ScreenTalk interview to homepage

28 May  Created She Stoops to Conquer page

25 May  Added Spartacus to homepage

23 May  Added behind the scene pic of Michael as Amfortas and Bitch Slap deals completed at Cannes to homepage

21 May  Added Bitch Slap sales news from Cannes to homepage

17 May  Added Buzzy Bee dvd release date to homepage

13 May  Added airing info for Legend of the Seeker in New Zealand to homepage

7 May  Added Spartacus to Future Projects

6 May  Added Jennifer appearing on The Good Word to homepage

25 April  Created Shakespeare's Birthday page; created The Eight: Reindeer Monologues page; added Bitch Slap premiere to homepage

17 April  Added Buzzy Bee to homepage

14 April  Created Xena convention cabaret photo gallery page

9 April  Created Voopa the Goolash page

8 April  Added screen caps, cast list, director's commentary, etc. to The Last Magic Show page

5 April  Created Venus and Adonis interview page

3 April  New format for dvd listing on homepage

30 March  Created Armageddon page

17 March  Added Campbell Live to homepage

16 March  Created Peter and the Wolf page

14 March  Added airing info for Legend of the Seeker in New Zealand

2 March  Created Xena con Q&A photo gallery

26 February  Created page for the Widow Twanky photo gallery from the LA Xena convention

24 February  Created page for the Bitch Slap panel photo gallery from the LA Xena convention

17 February Added news of Legend of the Seeker being shown in New Zealand

9 February  Changed format on homepage with Michael's new headshot; created new alphabetical project index

3 December  Added Loot to Future Projects

26 November  Added Metro's year-end kudos for Michael and Threepenny Opera to Threepenny Opera page

14 November  Added official Bitch Slap trailer to homepage

9 November  Added rehearsal video to Threepenny Opera page

31 October  Added Michael's Bitch Slap video to homepage

20 September  (Happy birthday, Michael!)  Created Blackbird page

27 July  Added Bitch Slap interview at Comic Con to homepage; added excerpt from Erin Cummings' interview about Bitch Slap to homepage; created Waiheke Art Gallery cabaret page; created Hansel and Gretel page

4 July  Created Threepenny Opera Photo Gallery page

18 June  Created The Threepenny Opera page

10 June  Added links to pictures and an interview about Bitch Slap to homepage

7 June  Created We're Here to Help page with screen captures, reviews, etc.

CLICK HERE FOR COMPLETE, DETAILED SITE HISTORY





This is not an official site, but we will keep it current with news of Michael's professional activities, as well as an archive of his projects.  We will also announce the professional activities of Michael's wife, Jennifer Ward-Lealand; see her official site for more on her career.

See also:  Michael's curriculum vitae on his official website: www.michaelhurst.co.nz and his listing on IMDB.  Michael is represented by Johnson & Laird Management.

 

 


MICHAEL DIRECTING SPARTACUS

Michael is directing episode 1.5 of Spartacus: Blood and Sand, a new American tv series for Starz Productions.  Spartacus will be shown on the Starz premium cable channel in the US beginning January 2010.  Click here for press release.  Michael will also be directing additional episodes, to be announced.


JENNIFER TO APPEAR IN PLAY READING

Jennifer will be appearing in a reading of Ghost Train, a new play by Fiona Samuels, for Auckland Theatre Company's Literary Unit.  The free public event will be held Thursday, 16 July, 2009 at 6:30 p.m. in Pioneer Women's Hall (O'Connell Street @ Freybert Place, Auckland CBD).


JENNIFER TO SING AT RUSS GARCIA TRIBUTE

Jennifer will be one of the guest artists at A Charmed Life, a tribute to legendary composer/arranger Russ Garcia, on Saturday, 18 July at 7:30 p.m. at the Raye Freedman Arts Centre, Silver Road, Epsom (adjacent to Epsom Girl's Grammar School). 

Hosted by Tim Beveridge, the concert will also feature appearances by Jackie Clarke, Lisa Crawley and Jane Horder, accompanied by the Neophonic Jazz Ensemble, a handpicked band of Auckland’s finest musicians inspired by the legendary bands of the swing era. 

Tickets are available from iTicket.


MICHAEL INTERVIEWED FOR NZ ON SCREEN

Michael did the ScreenTalk interview below for the website New Zealand On Screen.  The site celebrates New Zealand films and tv shows and the people who make them.   Michael talks about his career, from his first tv role in a show called "Tinkling Brass" to the upcoming feature film Bitch Slap.

New Zealand On Screen also has a feature page on Michael's screen career, including clips from films and tv shows.


 


THE MAP READER TO BE RELEASED ON DVD

The Map Reader will be available on dvd in New Zealand beginning 15 July 2009, according to the Arovideo website, which has it available for pre-order.  Michael has a very small but powerful role in the film.


BUZZY BEE NOW ON DVD

Jennifer voiced the character of Dorable Duck on the animated tv series Buzzy Bee and Friends, which premiered on 27 April and is now available on dvd.  Also featuring the voices of Madeline Sami, Stephanie Liebert, Richard Simpson, Merv Smith, Danielle Cormack, and Johnny Barker.


Dorable and her three ducklings


LEGEND OF THE SEEKER

Michael directed three episodes of the first season ofAmerican tv show Legend of the Seeker, and will be directing several episodes of the second season.  He also appeared as the wizard Amfortas in episode 1.13, "Revenant".  Legend of the Seeker  is now being re-run from the beginning in the US.  "Denna" is scheduled to air on 18 July, "Sacrifice" on 1 August, "Revenant" on 22 August, and the season finale "Reckoning" on 24 October.  See the show's official website for time and channel finder.


Michael as Amfortas in "Revenant"

The show is currently in first run in New Zealand, being shown Mondays at 7:30 on Prime.  "Reckoning" should be shown in August; check back for the exact date.  Michael and Jennifer's oldest son Jack made his acting debut in "Reckoning," playing Nicholas.

According to Broadcast Now, Legend of the Seeker will begin airing on the SciFi channel in the UK in August.

See the show's official website.

 


Jack and Craig Parker (as Darken Rahl)

MICHAEL PROFILED ON CAMPBELL LIVE

Michael was featured on Campbell Live on Wednesday 17 March, with video of him directing Life is a Dream, rehearsing for Peter and the Wolf, scouting locations for Legend of the Seeker, and appearing in Bitch Slap.  View the segment online here (note that the voiceover is wrong about the Bitch Slap premier; a release date for the film has not yet been announced).


MICHAEL STARRING IN BITCH SLAP

Bitch Slap premiered at the film market in Cannes on 16 May 2009.  According to UK publication Screen Daily, "IM Global diversified its slate and sold out its grindhouse homage Bitch Slap,  . . ."  The publication reports that deals were completed in Cannes for the UK, Germany, Spain, France, and Japan.  Other deals are pending.

Michael is starring in the American feature film Bitch Slap playing Gage, a notorious underworld kingpin.  The film also stars Julia Voth as Trixie, Erin Cummings as Hel, and America Olivo as Camero. 

Michael's Hercules co-star Kevin Sorbo will also appear, with cameos by Xena co-stars Lucy Lawless and Renee O'Connor.

Michael teaches "Bitch Slap 101"

Michael as Gage (other Bitch Slap
character posters are here)

OFFICIAL BITCH SLAP WEBSITE

Bitch Slap is described as an exploitation film--with a healthy dose of comedy; a "thinking man’s throwback to the “B” Movie/ Exploitation films of the 1950’s-70’s as well as a loving, sly parody of the same.  . . . Bitch Slap will mix girls, guns, outrageous action and jaw-dropping visuals with a message… don’t be naughty!  . . . What makes Bitch Slap different is a complicated 'B' story device that runs throughout the film to illuminate character, backstory and relationship histories not previously revealed. . . . Bitch Slap also employs a mysterious Female Narrator who comments periodically on the folly of humanity, the plight of the human condition and the vagaries of life and love through quoting the likes of Dostoevsky, T.S. Eliot, Sun Tzu and even Buddha.  (Bet you never heard THAT in Jailbait Babysitter!)"  Read the full synopsis here.

Stunts are being coordinated and performed by Xena stunt double Zoe Bell, and the film is written and produced by Eric Gruendemann and Rick Jacobson; Jacobson is also directing.  Gruendemann was Co-Executive Producer of Hercules, Xena, Young Hercules, Jack of All Trades, and Cleopatra 2525, and Jacobson directed two episodes of Hercules and twelve of Xena.  Anticipated release date:  late 2008/early 2009. 

See an interview at Comic Con with Eric Gruendemann and Rick Jacobson.  They talk about the origins and ideas behind the film and what they were hoping to accomplish.  See images from Bitch Slap here.  Read an interview with Rick Jacobson on Zoe Bell Fans on LiveJournal.

Official Bitch Slap trailer (adult content: language, violence, sexual content)
Click here to go to the BitchSlapMovie channel on You Tube.

*          *          *

ERIN CUMMINGS TALKS ABOUT WORKING WITH MICHAEL

Erin Cummings did an interview for fearnet.com in which she describes working with Michael (read the entire interview here):

" . . . working with Michael Hurst was just the greatest gift that I could've received on this film.   I mean even if nothing ever happens with this movie, just having gotten to work with him and see his process and bear witness to an actor, someone who really loves their craft, it was incredible.  I felt like every time I was in the room with him I was learning something new about acting.  That was an incredible experience. 

" . . . I remember at one point it was windy, we're in the desert, it's miserable - no one's having a good time because the weather conditions were just horrific. And I look down and I see Michael Hurst covered in blood and sweat and spit, lying face down in the dirt, covered in mud from head to toe wearing nothing but a thong and a kimono.  Just happy as a pig in shit, couldn't be happier.  

"And I just thought 'Wow, man, that is an actor.'  He's not complaining.   He's not being a diva or a primadonna which he absolutely has the right to.  He's just like 'Oh, you want me to lay face down in the mud? And then you're gonna have that actor kick me in the stomach and then you're gonna do it twenty times? No problem.'  That was very good for all of us being able to see him getting tortured, literally being drug through the mud, and just going with it."


 

 

 

 

 



NOW AVAILABLE ON DVD
Click on a title below for information, pictures, etc;
retail sources are listed only if there is limited availability.


HERE TO STAY
TV series, 2007
Episode 1.3, "The English"
Region free (PAL)

Role:
presenter

THE LAST MAGIC SHOW
Feature film, 2008
Region: 4

Role:
Trevor Norton

from arovideo.co.nz & Australian sellers



MURDER ON THE BLADE?
TV documentary, 2003
Region free
Role: defence attorney
from hunterproductions.co.nz/


THE TATTOOIST
Feature film, 2007
Region: 1, 2, 3, 4

Role:
Crash


TREASURE ISLAND KIDS:
THE MONSTER OF TREASURE ISLAND

Feature film, 2004
Region: 1, 2, 4

Role:
ferry captain (also director)

TREASURE ISLAND KIDS:
THE MYSTERY OF TREASURE ISLAND

Feature film, 2004
Region: 1, 2, 4

Role:
director only


WE'RE HERE TO HELP
Feature film, 2007
Region: 4

Role: Rodney Hide

 Recent Projects    Future Projects & Appearances
 
Note: We try to ensure that everything here is correct, but mistakes do happen,
and things can change, so please contact the venues directly for verification.

This site is non-commercial and no money is being made from it. No copyright infringement
is intended. All copyrighted materials remain the property of the original copyright holder.
We believe that everything on this web site falls within the legal description of "fair use".
The site has no formal affiliation with Michael Hurst.

For site update history, click here (latest update 2 July 2009).

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