First Images From 300: Rise of an Empire

The first images from 300: Rise of an Empire, along with some details about the film from director Noam Murro, have become available via USA Today.

Adapted from Frank Miller’s graphic novel “Xerxes,” the film takes place in a parallel time period to Zack Snyder’s epic blockbuster 300. This time the battle will occur at sea. The Greek general Themistocles (Sullivan Stapleton) fights to unite Greece and battles an invading army of Persians lead by the mortal-turned-god, Xerxes (Roderigo Santoro) and Artemesia (Eva Green), the vengeful commander of the Persian navy.

Sullivan Stapleton in 300: Rise of an Empire

Though 300: Rise of an Empire is under the direction of a new helmer, the film “is tied visually to the original,” according to Murro. However, he adds, “there is a whole different choreography of fighting and war.” 300 was principally set in one location, a narrow passage known as “Hot Gates” where the outnumbered Spartans worked to gain an advantage. This new film, however, “happens over time in many different locations. The opportunities for the six distinct battles are even greater with different locations and tactics.''

"The few against the many is still here," the director adds. "It's hundreds vs. hundreds of thousands. It's about taking on the mightiest power of all with wisdom and tactics." As to the film’s hero, "Themistokles is battle-scarred and a warrior, but at the same time he's a politician," Murro says. "He's not the king. He has to rule in a democracy. It's a different complexity of character."

Take a look at the film’s official logo below.

Snyder and Kurt Johnstad co-wrote the film which also stars Lena Headey, Hans Matheson, David Wenham, Igal Naor, Callan Mulvey, Jack O'Connell and Andrew Tiernan.

300: Rise of an Empire opens in theatres on August 2, 2013.

Roth Cornet is an Entertainment Editor for IGN. You can follow her on Twitter at @RothCornet and IGN at Roth-IGN.

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