“Xerxes” will most likely be made into film as well

Dec 16, 2009 15:57 GMT  ·  By

Zack Snyder’s 2007 blockbuster “300,” based on the graphic novel by Frank Miller, was a milestone for modern cinematography. Given the kind of revenue it generated, as well as the positive reaction from both fans and critics, it’s no wonder talk of a sequel has been making the rounds ever since. Today, fans are one step closer to seeing another film in the same vein, the LA Times says.

As we also reported a while back, Miller has been working on a follow-up story for “300” but, until just now, details on that were pretty scarce. Even though he’s not letting the cat out of the bag altogether, at least fans will be happy to learn that the second “300” film (to which many refer mockingly as “301”) will actually be a prequel, and that it will bear the name “Xerxes.”

Similarly, another good piece of news is that Miller is almost done on the plot for the story. Movie studios are believed to already be looking into purchasing the rights to make the film, with Snyder reportedly leading the pack. However, judging by the name of the second story, chances of seeing Gerard Butler flex his pecs again, as many female fans would have probably wanted, are close to none, reports in the specialized media are saying.

“The Zack Snyder film, the highest-grossing March release ever, was based on Frank Miller’s graphic novel about King Leonidas and his doomed army of Spartans; Miller is preparing a follow-up now titled ‘Xerxes,’ which begins about 10 years before the events of ‘300,’ and Snyder has expressed interest in it as a film property as well. ‘It’s the battle of Marathon through my lens,’ Miller said Wednesday. ‘I’ve finished the plot and I’m getting started on the artwork’,” LA Times writes.

“Miller said he is not surprised Greece is resurgent in Hollywood. ‘Every generation returns to ancient Greece because, well, the stories are so damn good,’ said the artist, who also directed last year’s ‘The Spirit.’ Miller said that during his research trips to Greece he realized that the myth and history overlap begins to blur, which adds to the storytelling allure,” the publication further explains.