In 1821, aging Spanish nobleman and masked vigilante Don Diego de la Vega confronts the corrupt governor of California, Don Rafael Montero. During their confrontation, De la Vega’s identity is revealed as Zorro, and he is imprisoned as his wife is killed and his daughter, Elena, is taken by Montero. Twenty years later, Montero returns to California with Elena, who has grown up believing him to be her father, with plans to buy the territory from Mexico with gold from a secret mine.

Escaping from prison, De la Vega encounters Alejandro Murrieta, a bandit with a personal vendetta against Montero's right-hand man, Captain Harrison Love. De la Vega sees potential in Murrieta and decides to train him to become the new Zorro. Equipped with skills, a masked identity, and a mission for justice, Murrieta seeks to thwart Montero's plans while pursuing his own quest for retribution. Meanwhile, he also finds himself romantically entangled with Elena, who is unaware of her true heritage.