Snyder to direct Xerxes, the 300 prequel

Zack Synder confirms to Hero Complex that he “fully intends” to direct the 300 spin-off/prequel/sequel film, Xerxes. Yeah, about that placement of the film, Snyder clarifies: “This movie follows Themistocles and the Battle of Artemisium, which coincidentally happens on the exact same three days as the Battle of Thermopylae [which was the basis of 300]. 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.”

The film is currently being written, yet nothing truly official as of now. Snyder also talks about the differences between the two films, if everything goes accordingly: “What I said to the studio is that 300 gave everyone a chance to fight alongside a super warrior, a chance to fight alongside these Spartan warriors that you could never fight against; but Themistocles is different, he is us. It’s much more about the everyman. Themistocles is kind of the father of democracy. It’s much more about these guys choosing. The Spartans are, ‘We fight, we die,’ so that’s an easy choice for them, there’s no surrender. The cool thing about Themistocles and his gang is that it’s way more difficult. Things aren’t as clear or unchallenged. He has to be more political to get everyone to agree. It’s political, in the soap-opera sense of the word. There’s a relationship with Leonidas and well, we’ll see where it all goes.”

While that sounds like Gerald Butler could cameo, Snyder quickly confirms he hasn’t appraoched him yet. Anyone more or less interested in Xerxes?

Source: First Showing