‘300′ Prequel Now Titled ‘Xerxes’

Published by Jeff Leins on: December 16th, 2009

In July 2008, the producers confirmed a follow-up to Zack Snyder’s 300 was in the works.  At the time there weren’t any details outside of news that Frank Miller was writing another graphic novel on which another movie may be based.

Snyder, who has been reluctant to commit as screenwriter and director until he sees the finished product, updated press with progress and story details.  At the time he said it would take place between the Battle of Thermopylae and the Battle of Plataea, which would make it a sequel to the Spartan story of King Leonidas.  No return of the bare-chested Gerard Butler, ladies.

Now, in an interview with the LA Times’ Hero Complex, Frank Miller says its a prequel set 10 years before 300 and during the Battle of Marathon, and it’s titled Xerxes.  The plot is complete and he’s starting the artwork, he told Geoff Boucher.  I hope and pray Snyder signs to direct, for many reasons but most importantly, because I’d rather Miller not take over instead.  We all know what happened with The Spirit.

While the original movie depicted the second invasion of the Persians into Greek territory, the prequel set at Marathon is the first attempt by Persia to conquer Greece only to be routed by the Athenians.  What’s strange about the concept is, according to historians, Xerxes wasn’t at the battle and it was ordered by his father, King Darius I.  Only after the Persian defeat and a new army was amassed did Xerxes rise to the throne and invade Greece against the 300 Spartans at Thermopylae (as seen in the movie, sort of).

Will Miller focus the attention on the aftermath of Marathon from the Persian perspective, or is the new graphic novel a revisionist re-imaging of the significant battle?  Will Zack Snyder sign for a second movie once Xerxes is ready?  Stay tuned…