First Images From Albert Pyun's SWORD AND THE SORCERER Sequel TALES OF AN ANCIENT EMPIRE!

[Updated with another piece of promo art]

We first brought news of the impending sequel to classic 80s fantasy flick The Sword And The Sorcerer back in April and while production was delayed some by this past year's labor uncertainty and while the cast has undergone some slight alterations things are now up and running, with principal photography now freshly begun. Here's how director Albert Pyun first described the project to us: "It's got a sexy sorceress, hordes of demonic vampires, a giant serpent, sea pirates, nasty sword (and axe, spear, leg of cow) fights and gore and nudity galore. Everything that a rousing adventure needs to have."

Though the project has changed some since it began life as a direct sequel to Pyun's The Sword And The Sorcerer there are still direct links between the two films. Starring? Here are the notables: Kevin Sorbo (Hercules) and Christopher Lambert (The Highlander) are the male leads, while relative newcomer Melissa Ordway takes the female lead as Tanis, a young woman trying to unite the warrior of her world in a battle against an evil sorceress. Whitney Able (All The Boys Love Mandy Lane), Janelle Taylor, Ralf Moeller (Conan, Cyborg) and Olivier Gruner (Nemesis) also have key parts.

We'll have more from this soon but in the mean time we've got a handful of stills from early rehearsals that show off the look of the characters - I'm rather fond of the Sorbo shot - the first look at the sales art and an early composite shot of Ordway as Tanis. Hit the link below to get a look!