300: Rise of an Empire Photos with Sullivan Stapleton as Themistokles
Actor Sullivan Stapleton is revealed as the mighty Themistokles in one of two new photos from 300: Rise of an Empire, director Noam Murro's new film that runs "parallel" to the 2007 blockbuster 300. Take a look at the photos featuring Themistokles and a sea-bound battle formation, then read to see what both the actor and director had to say about this new film.
Director Noam Murro revealed that a lot of the action takes place at sea, which opens the story up to new battle tactics.
"The opportunities for the six distinct battles are even greater with different locations and tactics."
One of the key similarities this film will have with 300, both of which are set around the same time, is that this is still a lopsided fight, according to Noam Murro.
"The few against the many is still here. It's hundreds vs. hundreds of thousands. It's about taking on the mightiest power of all with wisdom and tactics."
Sullivan Stapleton spoke about the cunning Artemisia (Eva Green), who is after revenge.
""She does most of Xerxes' dirty work in this film. She's seeking revenge, and she does it well. She's a force to be reckoned with."
Noam Murro also compared Themistokles to Gerard Butler's Spartan King Leonidas in 300.
"Themistokles is battle-scarred and a warrior, but at the same time he's a politician. He's not the king. He has to rule in a democracy. It's a different complexity of character."
The warriors who do battle under Themistokles are actually reluctant commoners who don't have the same mentality that 300's Spartan warriors do, according to Noam Murro.
"These people don't want to fight, they even say that they are not Spartans. They are common people who have to do this to not be in under the rule of a dictator. This is not a duplicate movie or a cookie-cutter. It's a very different story to tell in keeping with the original flavor of 300."
300: Rise of an Empire comes to theaters August 2nd, 2013 and stars Eva Green, Rodrigo Santoro, Sullivan Stapleton, Mark Killeen, Jack O'Connell, Hans Matheson, Andrew Tiernan, Callan Mulvey. The film is directed by Noam Murro.
Sources: USA Today
