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' 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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Gerard Butler won't return for '300: Battle of Artemisia'

In case you forgot, and you can be forgiven if you have, there's a sorta sequel to 300 that's in production right now. Titled 300: Battle of Artemisia, the film takes place during the same time frame as the last film, but follows a totally different story mostly focusing on Xerxes(Rodrigo Santoro) and his quest for godhood. One thing the film is lacking in substantial quantities is star power, and so fairly early on we started to hear that maybe Gerard Butler and Lena Headey would come back and reprise their roles as Leonidas and Queen Gorgo. While it's possible Headey could appear in a cameo, Butler is leaving 300 in his rear view mirror. He tells MTV....

Butler:  "I'm not doing it. They're filming [the '300' sequel] right now. I wish them the best, but it didn't [work out]. It wasn't really my thing."

Considering all the crap Butler puts out there on a regular basis, I'm curious to know what his "thing" is. Maybe he took a look at the mostly unknown cast of Eva Green, Sullivan Stapleton, Jack O'Connell, and Callan Mulvey, along with unproven director Noam Murro(Smart People) and decided it was best to stay far away. Can't really say I blame him.

300: Battle of Artemisia could turn out awesome, but it doesn't look like it right now. We'll find out when it opens on August 2nd 2013. 

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Sure Shots: 'The Mortal Instruments'; Brie Larson; '300: Battle of Artemisia'

* After seeming like it was dead in the water, the long-gestating adaptation of Cassandra Clare's The Mortal Instruments has been proceeding pretty quickly over the last few weeks. Today sees two additions to the cast in perennial tough guy Kevin Durand(Real Steel) and ex-WWE wrestler Robert Maillet(Sherlock Holmes). Lily Collins, Jamie Campbell-Bower, and Jemima West star in the film about Clary Fray, a young girl who discovers she's part of a long line of Shadowhunters, a secret group that protects the world from demons. Durand will play Pangborn, while the 6 foot 11 inch Maillet will be Blackwell, both considered antagonists in the story. Harald Zwart will direct, with The Mortal Instruments set to hit theaters on August 23rd 2013.[Variety]

* As you'd expect from an unconventional actor like Joseph Gordon-Levitt, he's putting together an atypical cast for his directorial debut, Don Jon's Addiction. With JGL set to star as the titular porn addict and modern day Don Juan, he's now added the always awesome Brie Larson(21 Jump Street) to play his sister. JGL wrote the script, which follows Don Jon's attempts to become a less selfish person after meeting an older, widowed woman played by Julianne Moore. Scarlett Johansson, Tony Danza, and Rob Brown co-star in the currently filming romantic comedy. [Variety]

* Dude. I thought 300: Battle of Artemisia was dead as a fallen Spartan? It's been so long since we've heard anything about the slowly developing swords 'n sandals flick, that getting any news on it seems strange. Whatever the case, there's been a new addition to the cast with Brit actor Jack O'Connell(Harry Brown) jumping aboard. He'll take on the role of Calisto, which was vacated when Jamie Blackley dropped out back in April. I can't figure out if Warner Brothers is taking this movie seriously, as they seem to be doing everything in their power to make it as inferior to Zack Snyder's hit film as possible. First they made the unusual choice of hiring Noam Murro(Smart People) to direct, and then filled the cast with people most don't care about. Rodrigo Santoro is back as Xerxes, joined by new arrivals Sullivan Stapleton, Eva Green, and Callan Mulvey. 300: Battle of Artemisia is set to open next year on August 2nd. [DailyMail via ThePlaylist]

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Jamie Blackley dropped from '300: Battle of Artemisia'

With the oddball casting of mostly unknowns, and the less than exciting hire of Noam Murro to direct, 300: Battle of Artemisia gives the impression of a film that is being slapped together out of spit and bailing wire. Back in February we learned that Jamie Blackley, who most couldn't pick out of a police line-up, was brought on for one of the co-leading roles, opposite Sullivan Stapleton(Animal Kingdom) and Eva Green. Now an update from HeyUGuys says Blackley has been dropped from the cast for unspecified reasons.

The site says that Warner Brothers passed on Blackley in favor of their "original choice for the role", but they don't elaborate on who that might be. He was set to play Calisto, a 16 year old warrior so inspired by his father's heroism that he grows to become the leader of his own band of soldiers.  Rodrigo Santoro is the only one confirmed to return from Zack Snyder's hit 2007 film, reprising his role as the Persian warlord, Xerxes. Gerard Butler and Lena Headey may be back, but nothing is confirmed at this stage.

We'll probably hear something soon on Blackley's replacement. 300: Battle of Artemisia, or whatever it'll be titled, is expected to be released on August 2nd 2013.

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Rodrigo Santoro confirmed for '300: Battle of Artemisia'

This is just a brief update on yesterday's story, as Deadline confirms now that Rodrigo Santoro will hit the tanning booth and return as Xerxes for 300: Battle of Artemisia.

Xerxes, the primary enemy of the Spartans in Zack Snyder's hit, 300, is expected to be the focal point of this film, a decade spanning story that takes place before, during, and after the famous Battle of Thermopylae. Snyder and Kurt Johnstad are co-writing the script, which was originally based on Frank Miller's graphic novel, although that may have changed in the last few months.

Sullivan Stapleton, Eva Green, and Jamie Blakely will star in the Noam Murro directed flick when shooting begins this summer. Santoro recently wrapped The Last Stand alongside Arnold Schwarzenegger, and will unfortunately be seen next in What to Expect When You're Expecting.

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Rodrigo Santoro in talks to return for '300: Battle of Artemisia'

It looks like some changes are afoot for Warner Brothers' sweaty chested Spartan sequel, 300: Battle of Artemisia. Yep, it's still happening and with the studio suddenly throwing around money like a broken pinata, there shouldn't be anymore worries about this one getting sent off to movie limbo. So far the casting has felt a little random, with Sullivan Stapleton(Animal Kingdom), Jamie Blackley(who!!?), and Eva Green the only confirmed stars, there have been rumblings about Gerard Butler, Lena Headey, and Rodrigo Santoro possibly coming back.

Talking recently with one of Collider's sister sites, Santoro revealed that he is in talks to return as the war mongering Xerxes. Initially, the film appeared to be centered on the character, based on Frank Miller's graphic novel and covering Xerxes' quest for godhood in the decade prior to the famed Battle at Thermopylae. Santoro says that things have changed somewhat, and now the Zack Snyder/Kurt Johnstad script will have elements that take place before, after, and during the events depicted in 300....

Santoro:  The movie is set at the same time.  The idea is to show another point of view.  While that battle from the first 300 is taking place, there were others going on…Actually, it’s all of this and then there is an intersection point with the first movie.  It goes back and then goes beyond that.  That was the initial concept.

I still have a bad feeling about how this will ultimately shake out, especially with the unimpressive Murro at the helm. With the script continuing to evolve over the last three years, it may be that Snyder and Co. are trying to cram in too much, and maybe a more focused story would be the best approach.

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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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Eva Green takes on the title role in '300: Battle of Artemisia'

Even though it's been on our radar for months now, and a weird choice for director lined up in Noam Murro(Smart People), Warner Brothers has had some trouble finding people to actually star in 300: Battle of Artemisia. A prequel to Zack Snyder's speed ramped, high velocity fight flick, 300, Joel Edgerton had been circling the male lead but turned it down last month when it looked like he'd be taking The Man From U.N.C.L.E. Well that didn't happen, but there's been no movement casting-wise since. Until now, with THR reporting that Eva Green is the first officially to come aboard.

Green and her unique beauty(told ya, she just does it for me) will take on the title role of Artemisia, a ruthless gold covered goddess who persuades Xerxes to take on the less experienced Greek forces, led by General Themistokles. Green seems to have a knack for these types of sword 'n sorcery flicks, having starred in the boring HBO series, Camelot, and also Kingdom of Heaven.

So where does the casting go from here? There have been rumors of Gerard Butler and Lena Headey returning, which makes some sense because parts of this story will take place at the same time as the Battle of Thermopylae depicted in the last film.

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Joel Edgerton turns down 300: Battle of Artemisia

Joel Edgerton is being pulled in a number of different directions right now. The Aussie actor catapulted to fame with last year's Animal Kingdom, but since has been struggling to find his way as a leading man here in America. Warrior turned out to be a dud, despite featuring a popular sport and critical acclaim. The Thing bombed, but that was hardly his fault. So while his box office cred is still in question, that hasn't stopped studios from pursuing him vigorously. One of the films he was recently circling was 300: Battle of Artemisia, a prequel to the Zack Snyder hit, directed by Smart People's Noam Murro. It looks like Edgerton has decided to pursue something else entirely, as Variety's Jeff Sneider reports that he's turned the gig down.


No reason is given, but maybe it means he's decided to star in Kathryn Bigelow's Kill Bin Laden? He was the first name mentioned for the Navy Seal flick, but recent casting announcements have left his name off the list. It's always possible he'll take one of the lead roles in The Man From U.N.C.L.E., even though Steven Soderbergh just left the project.  Or maybe he just thinks like I do that a 300 prequel is a sucky idea and he'd rather do something more stimulating.

I'm sure we'll find out what's up in the next day or so. Edgerton is currently filming The Great Gatsby for Baz Luhrmann, and will be seen soon in The Odd Life of Timothy Green. As for 300, that leaves them still at square one, with nothing but a script by Frank Miller and Zack Snyder. Gerard Butler and Lena Headey have been rumored to reprise their roles from the first film, but nothing is set in stone.

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Joel Edgerton in talks for 300: Battle of Artemisia

For someone who burst onto the scene so quickly with last year's Animal Kingdom, Aussie actor Joel Edgerton has had a rough go at it proving to be a leading man here in the United States. No doubt he's wrangled his fair share of upcoming projects, such as The Great Gatsby, The Odd Life of Timothy Green, and possibly Kathryn Bigelow's Seal Team 6 film. But what's all that newfound fame done for his last two starring films? Warrior got KO'ed by audiences in the 1st round, and The Thing couldn't even get the die hard John Carpenter fans to attend. That doesn't look good at all.

A turnaround may be in the works, however, as Edgerton has entered talks to star in 300: Battle of Artemisia, a prequel to Zack Snyder's hit 2006 film featuring sweaty bare chested dudes, lots of animated blood, and a nauseating amount of speed ramping. Noam Murro(Smart People) is directing, with a script from original 300 scribe Frank Miller(co-written by Snyder), and takes place ten years prior to the famous battle at Thermopylae. He would take on the role of Themistocles, one of the generals who helped lead Athens against both Persian attempts at invasion. He was one of the primary leaders at the Battle of Marathon, which the film is said to focus a great deal on.

I would say this is a good, logical move for Edgerton, but I'm not convinced anybody's screaming for a 300 origin story. Especially without Zack Snyder at the helm, and most of the principle players not returning. Gerard Butler has been rumored to make an appearance as Leonidas, but that hasn't been confirmed yet. [Vulture]

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Noam Murro to direct 300: Battle of Artemisia

Joy! More sweaty, chiseled dudes in loincloths and naked chests. Tell me again why guys loved 300 so much, cuz I don't see it. Anyway, with Zack Snyder far too busy crafting the adventures of the Man of Steel, Warner Brothers pushed ahead with a sequel titled 300: Battle of Artemisia, with a script by Snyder and co-writer Kirk Johnstad. Based on a graphic novel by Frank Miller, the story will take place a decade before the battle at Thermopylae, and deal with the Xerxes' attempt to gain godhood. A number of directors were on a shortlist for the job with the two lead dogs being Jaume Collet-Serra(Orphan) and Noam Murro(Smart People). Now it appears Warner Brothers has landed on Murro for the gig.

Makes sense, since the studio only just a day ago pegged Collet-Serra for their troubled Akira adaptation. Murro is relatively untested as a director, having helmed the plodding and unfunny Smart People. He's been linked to the possible Die Hard 5 flick nobody wants to see, but lord knows when that'll get off the ground. Hopefully never.  

Murro's real claim to fame comes from those awesome Halo:Reach TV spots from awhile back, but that doesn't sell me on his ability to handle a film like this. He'll be expected to match or surpass the distinctive look Snyder presented, and I don't know if he can do that. I guess we'll see. Another question I have is in the portrayal of Xerxes. Rodrigo Santoro played the lanky and somewhat androgynous ruler in the first film. Will he be coming back for this one?

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