The Talent Show: Eva Green

Look, I'm going to hate the new 300 sequel, Rise of an Empire. There's no way around it. Given how much I really resented 300 and how over Frank Miller's insanely over-the-top conservative ideologies I am, and how stupid Rise of an Empire looks, I will not enjoy it. I will not! And, you know, the fact that I'm Iranian and we're only portrayed in these comics and movies as either a. sociopathic faux-demigods with weird homosexual overtones, b. freakish mutant whores, or c. faceless soldiers to be slaughtered doesn't really sit well with me.

The only thing that could make me give 300: Rise of an Empire any time of day is Eva Green, who I love and cherish forever. Goddamn, but she is beautiful, and is right up there in my life "Women I Want to Grow Up to Be" list (other notable members: Kate Winslet, Marion Cotillard, Sofia Coppola). And if you don't think Eva Green is lovely (maybe you haven't seen The Dreamers, Kingdom of Heaven, Casino Royale, The Golden Compass, or that terrible mini-series she was in, Camelot), then you're either stupid or blind. I guess the safest word to describe her would be "edgy," but she gives me an old-school Angelina Jolie vibe, of untouchable exotic beauty with a slight touch of intense crazy. And I'm perfectly fine with that.

Am I upset she has to take roles in crap like 300: Rise of an Empire? Of course. But she's playing one of my people, the famed female naval commander Artemisia, so I'll kind of let it slide. I mean, they're probably going to make her a deranged and slutty Xerxes worshiper in Rise of an Empire, and that's some major bullshit. Until then, I guess, I can just gaze at her face and console myself with her beauty. You should, too.

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'300: Rise of an Empire' gets another blood-soaked trailer

Want some insane racism and cultural and historical inaccuracy in your schedule for March? Then maybe you'll be introduced in this new blood-soaked trailer for 300: Rise of an Empire, the sequel to the film adaptation of Frank Miller's comic book 300. Because the first wasn't propaganda enough!

In the second film, Eva Green (I'm disappointed in you, Eva) stars as a female Persian warrior leading her naval fleet against the Greeks, who are looking to avenge the death of Leonidas (no, Gerard Butler is not coming back for this) and his 300 men. Other people are back, though: Lena Headey as Leonidas's grieving, vengeful widow, and Rodrigo Santaro as the most revolting depiction of Persian emperor Xerxes ever. Oh look, he's taking a bath in - what is that, liquid gold? - as Persians bow before him. I must have missed that in all those Persian history and culture classics I took in college.

Please, share in my rage by watching this trailer. Or, if for some reason you are into this garbage, re-evaluate your life.

300: Rise of an Empire pollutes movie theaters on March 7, 2014.

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'300' sequel rises to a new title

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]

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Jamie Blackley lands the co-lead in Noam Murro's '300' sequel

With Sullivan Stapleton firmly in place as Themistocles in the Noam Murro directed sequel to 300, the film finally appears to be on solid ground. While a number of major roles need to be filled, including that of the Persian conqueror Xerxes, the other lead read has been filled by a relative unknown.

Jamie Blackley(London Boulevard) will star as Calisto, a 16-year old warrior inspired by his father's heroism to become the leader of a small band of soldiers. He'll join Stapleton and Eva Green in the film, co-written by Kurt Johnstad and producer Zack Snyder.  The story will cover the ten years leading up to to the Battle of Thermopylae, the centerpiece of Snyder's hit 2007 film, following Xerxes' quest for godhood.

Blackley will be seen next in the Kat Coiro directed While We Were Here, and in the Bryan Singer produced thriller, uwantme2killhim? [Deadline]

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Sullivan Stapleton will play Themistocles in '300' follow-up

This is just a brief update on last night's story about Sullivan Stapleton(Animal Kingdom) scoring the lead role in the now untitled follow-up to 300. At the time it was unclear what his role would be, with much of the speculation leaning towards him playing Xerxes, the ambitious Persian ruler and central figure in the previous film. Now it's being reported Stapleton will actually play Xerxes' rival, the Athenian naval commander, Themistocles. 

Rodrigo Santoro, who played Xerxes in 300, is apparently in talks to reprise the role. Eva Green was cast a few weeks ago as Artemisia, the golden goddess who encourages the conqueror to embrace his destiny. Zack Snyder and Kurt Johnstad co-wrote the script, based on the upcoming graphic novel by Frank Miller which was designed as a prequel, starting with the Battle of Marathon and following Xerxes' decade long quest for godhood.  Noam Murro is set to direct. [Deadline]

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Sullivan Stapleton to star in the untitled '300' sequel

It's a battle for Australian actor supremacy! Well, not exactly, but last year Joel Edgerton, the Australian actor who rose to prominence after the success of Animal Kingdom, was attached to star in 300: Battle of Artemisia. A sequel to Zack Snyder's hit 2007 film full of bare chested Spartans, Noam Murro(Smart People) was set to direct. Eventually, Edgerton also became attached to an adaptation of The Man From U.N.C.L.E., but since he's now starring in Kathryn Bigelow's Osama Bin Laden film he didn't take either role. Now one of his Animal Kingdom castmates, Sullivan Stapleton, has stepped in to take his place. 

Variety reports Stapleton will lead the film, which now is officially untitled. When first presented, the plan was for this to be a prequel to 300, following the Persian ruler, Xerxes. Now it appears that Warner Brothers are unsure of when the story actually takes place, and won't classify it as a prequel, sequel, or spinoff. That leaves Staplton's role up in the air at this point, although Deadline says he will in fact play Xerxes. We do know that Eva Green will play Artemisia, the gold covered goddess who persuades Xerxes to embrace his destiny and take on the world.

Based on an upcoming graphic novel by creator Frank Miller, the script was co-written by Snyder and Kurt Johnstad. When filming will begin is unclear, but you can bet Warner Brothers wants to see this one kick off sooner rather than later. This is by far the biggest role of Stapleton's career, which has stalled out in the last couple of years. He's currently starring in the Showtime series, Strike Back, and will have a small role in Gangster Squad.

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Snyder already writing 300 sequel

Zack Snyder sure seems to think he'll be behind the director's chair for Xerxes, the sequel to 300. In fact, he and Kurt Johnstad have already started writing the script. But...does that mean creator Frank Miller has finished the Xerxes graphic novel? Snyder doesn't really say but...what would he be adapting if it wasn't done?? Here's what Snyder told Hero Complex....

Snyder: It’s really going to depend on what the studio wants to do and what we do when we finish; I don’t have a directing deal in place but we are writing it, so call it intent. If there was a crime they could probably convict me.

That certainly implies that the comic book script is finished. Miller has been working on the script for his six-issue mini series since around March of last year, with Snyder closely following the process. The story would take place ten years before the events of 300, and follows Xerxes, the Persian king responsible for the invasion of Sparta. Snyder's description of the plot makes it sound absolutely amazing.

This movie follows Themistocles and the Battle of Artemisium, which coincidentally happens on the exact same three days as the Battle of Thermopylae. 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.


Darius gets wounded at Marathon and he’s super cool and like a great guy. Even the Greeks are like, ‘Darius is awesome.’ After Darius dies, Xerxes [his son] is so distraught, but Darius had told him, ‘Don’t attack the Greeks, only a god can punish the Greeks.’ So that’s when he calls his mystics and wizards and says, ‘Make me a god so I can avenge my father.’

I can't wait for this. It already sounds better than 300 did. Don't get me wrong, I liked 300 fine. I just think any guy who's seen it more than twice might need to be a bit more honest about why he keeps watching it.

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