The sequel to the sword, sandals and leather Speedos smash "300" has gotten a better title.
The follow-up to the box office phenomenon has been christened "300: Rise of an Empire." It originally had the more cumbersome working title of "300: Battle of Artemisia."
Having defeated the Spartans, despite their heroic last stand, the new film will follow Xerxes and his Persian army as they try to take over more of Greece and expand their sphere of power.
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Rodrigo Santoro ("Lost") will return as the decadent conqueror. Trying to thwart his efforts at empire building will be Sullivan Stapleton ("Animal Kingdom"), who stars as Athenian general Themistocles. Eva Green ("Casino Royale") appears as a new character called Artemesia, the wife of the Persian ruler. Noam Murro ("Smart People") directs.
Gerard Butler is not returning for the film, which would have been difficult as his character King Leonidas has crossed the river Styx, having been done in at the Battle of Thermopylae.
"300: Rise of an Empire" premieres on Aug. 2, 2013 from Warner Bros.