Guy Ritchie not directing sequel to 300

A couple of days ago it was reported that Guy Ritchie(Snatch) had been offered the directing job on Xerxes, the planned sequel to 2007's macho lovefest, 300. The move was a shock, with Superman director Zack Snyder being such an integral part of the film's success, not to mention keeping in close touch with writer Frank Miller on the story the sequel would be based on.  If it seemed a little strange for a story like that to come out now, with Snyder so deeply entrenched in the preparation for Superman, then maybe it's because it simply wasn't true?
According to Entertainment Weekly that's exactly the case. A Warner Brothers spokesperson tells them that no formal offer to Ritchie was ever made for the Xerxes gig, calling it "an erroneous rumor". You know it's bad when they start breaking out the ten cent words. 

As usual it's all in the wording. I'd like to know what the actual full statement the rep made was. By calling it a "formal offer" it could mean that Warner Brothers has at least discussed the idea with Ritchie, but nothing's been decided.  I'm just spit ballin' here, though. The point remains that as it stands right now Xerxes has no director attached, and since the film hasn't even been written or greenlit yet, it might be awhile before one is.