Well, the memo has apparently made its way around Hollywood that every tentpole film has to have the word "rise" in the title. Rise of the Planet of the Apes...Rise of the Guardians...The Dark Knight Rises...G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra...and now you can add Warner Bros.' 300 sequel as the latest to overuse the word.
Once known as 300: Battle of Artemisia, the film will now go by the title of 300: Rise of an Empire. It's a definite step up from the previous title, and conjures up images of huge wars and conquered civilizations. The story will serve as both a prequel to 300 and also run parallel to the battle of Thermopylae, with Rodrigo Santoro returning as the Persian king, Xerxes. Eva Green plays Artemisia, the real life ruler of Caria who was part of an alliance engaging the Persian empire in a crucial naval war known as the Battle of Artemesium. We'll also get a glimpse at Xerxes' origin and the beginnings of his quest to achieve godhood.
Name change or not, it doesn't solve the film's serious lack of starpower without Gerard Butler or Lena Headey returning. Along with Green and Santoro, the rest of the cast includes Sullivan Stapleton(Animal Kingdom), Callan Mulvey, and Jack O'Connell. Yeah, they'll put some butts in seats!
Noam Murro is directing 300: Rise of an Empire for release on August 2nd 2013. [Variety]
