First Theatrical Poster For 300: RISE OF EMPIRE

First Look At Eva Green As Vilain Of 300: RISE OF AN EMPIRE

FIRST LOOK: Sullivan Stapleton In 300 RISE OF AN EMPIRE

Another Actor Joins 300 Battle Of Artemisia

CinemaBlend has caught wind of an announcement that Australian actor Callan Mulvey (The Hunter) has joined the slowly growing cast of 300: Battle of Atremisia. He joins Eva Green, fellow Hunter co-star Sullivan Stapleton, Jamie Blackley and Rodrigo Santoro as Xerxes. Mulvey has also landed a supporting role in Kathryn Bigelow's Zero Dark Thirty.

Rodrigo Santoro In Talks To Reprise The Role Of Xerxes

While speaking with Collider actor Rodrigo Santoro confirmed that he was in talks to reprise the role of Xerxes in 300: Battle of Artemisia. Currently the only actors confirmed for the film include Eva Green (Casino Royale, Kingdom of Heaven), Sullivan Stapleton (Animal Kingdom) and Jamie Blackley. There had also been talk of Gerard Butler and Lena Headey reprising their roles as well.

Sullivan Stapleton Joins 300 Prequel

Variety reports that Aussie actor Sullivan Stapleton (Strike Back, Animal Kingdom) has landed the lead in the untitled 300 prequel. I'm a little confused about which role Sullivan has actually nabbed. Deadline reports it's Xerxes while ThePlaylist says it's the lead role that was originally offered to Joel Edgerton which had been reported to be Themistocles. Variety is even more vague and doesn't even give a hint what the role is. Stapleton hasn't had many high profiled projects since Animal Kingdom but has a supporting role in the gritty mob thriller Gangster Squad. Eva Green (Casino Royale, Kingdom of Heaven) has already joined the production playing the female lead Artemisia.

UPDATE: Jeff from ShowBlitz has confirmed to me that Sullivan is indeed playing General Themistocles.

Eva Green Could Join The 300 Prequel

HeatVision reports that French actress Eva Green (Casino Royale, Kingdom of Heaven, Dark Shadows) is in talks for the role of Artemisia in the 300 prequel. The film currently titled 300: Battle of Artemisia is expected to take place before and during the events of the first movie. Joel Edgerton (The Thing, Warrior) had been in talks to take the male lead of Themistocles but ultimately passed on the project.

Snyder Says Xerxes Script Done Might Not Direct, Could Joe Manganiello Join?

MTV caught up with writer/director Zack Snyder at the Sucker Punch premiere and got some updates on Xerxes. He confirms that he and his writing partner Kurt Johnstadt have finished the script but isn't sure if he'll direct. There had been rumors that Guy Ritchie was in talks with Warners Bros. to direct.

Snyder was also asked if Superman runner up Joe Manganiello (True Blood) would be in the film. Zack liked the idea but also said Joe was a busy man. The film would focus on Themistocles which could be a good role for Joe. Gerard Bulter could return as Leonidas if the script allows.

"This one starts off with a quick retelling of the why of the Persian wars. It starts off at the Battle of Marathon and then it goes back to Themistocles finding out that Persians are invading again. And off we go over to learn a little bit about why Xerxes is the way he is."

Guy Ritchie Offered 300 Prequel Xerxes

Vulture reports that Warner Bros. has offered Guy Ritchie the directing gig on Xerxes the 300 prequel which will also be written by creator Frank Miller. Zack Snyder had initially been tapped as the director but likely had to drop out to focus all his energy into making Superman and possible sequels.

Ritchie is becoming a main director at the studio similar to Christopher Nolan and Snyder directing two Sherlock Holmes films. He is no stranger to comic book films as he was attached to direct both Sgt. Rock and Lobo based on DC Comic properties for Warner Bros. previously. The two projects have been stuck in limbo and Ritchie has moved on with his Holmes franchise. Robert Downey Jr. will be busy filming Avengers and Iron Man 3 in the next year or two. So I doubt Sherlock 3 would be his next film making this a great project for Guy to take on. I think it's beyond different from everything else he's done before and it would be a return to R-rated material.

Zack Snyder Currently Writing Screenplay For Xerxes

Now that it seems Zack Snyder is pretty much close to finishing both Sucker Punch and Guardians. It looks like he's starting prep for his next project Xerxes which is the prequel to 300. Snyder confirmed to the LA Times that he's writing the film but hasn't confirmed if he'll direct.

"We closed the writing deal on Xerxes. We started writing about a week ago. So we’re doing it. It’s happening."

Frank Miller's Xerxes: First Image From Comic & Plot

Not too many people in comics have such an interesting legacy of work as Frank Miller. While his directorial skills are suspect his writing abilities and artwork is usually thought provoking. His new comic Xerxes is getting closer to completion and release. The prequel/sequel to his largely successful 300 which ended up turned into a film that became a monster hit. Ever since the announcement of the development of the new comic it would become the basis of the sequel. There has been talk of Zack Snyder returning to direct Xerxes if it the source material ended up as cool as the original. ComicBookResources has posted the first teaser image from the upcoming graphic novel. HeroComplex was able to get some story/plot points from Miller himself.


"The story will be the same heft as '300' but it cover a much, much greater span of time -- it's 10 years, not three days," Miller said. "This is a more complex story. The story is so much larger. The Spartans in '300' were being enclosed by the page as the world got smaller. This story has truly vast subjects. The Athenian naval fleet, for instance, is a massive artistic undertaking and it dwarfed by the Persian fleet, which is also shown in this story. The story has elements of espionage, too, and it's a sweeping tale with gods and warriors."

"The time frame begins 10 years before '300' and the story starts with the Battle of Marathon, which was killer to draw, by the way, even if it was a lot of work," Miller said. "The lead character is Themistocles, who became warlord of Greece and built their navy. The story is very different than '300' in that it involves Xerxes search for godhood. The existence of gods are presupposed in this story and the idea is that he well on his way to godhood by the end of the story."

"With Themistocles I have a character who is almost the dead opposite of Leonidas in that Themistocles was a lying, conniving, brilliant, heroic figure. He was nicknamed 'The Subtle Serpent' and he always manages to do the exact right things that will result in him benefiting greatly."