USA Today has posted the first two pictures from the upcoming sequel 300: Rise of an Empire, the sequel to the 2007 surprise hit 300 based on the graphic novel by Frank Miller.
This new film will be directed by Noam Murro (Smart People) and is described as a parallel story to 300 centering on the Battle of Artemisium, which historically took place at the same time as the Battle of Thermopylae, which was the climactic finale of 300. The new film will follow history in that sense, taking place at about the same time as its predecessor, as Greek general Themistokles (Sullivan Stapleton) and his common-man troops fight the rest of the Persian army at sea. Stapleton is pictured to the right.
The piece goes on to add: “In this case, the mightiest power is primarily led by Artemesia (Eva Green), the vengeful commander of the Persian navy, who is second in command to the mortal-turned-god leader Xerxes (Rodrigo Santoro). She has the added incentive of seeking to settle a blood score against the Greeks who killed her family when she was a child.”
Murro adds to that telling USA Today the sequel “happens over time in many different locations,” says Murro. “The opportunities for the six distinct battles are even greater with different locations and tactics.”
As far as the new pictures are concerned, the one of Sullivan Stapleton as Themistokles is obvious (a larger look is included below), but the one above is a look at an open sea battle from the film.
300: Rise of an Empire will hit theaters on August 2.
