Frank Miller Has a Title and Story for '300' Prequel

Are you ready for the inevitable 300 follow-up? The most recent information we received pointed to a prequel rather than a sequel, and if they've gotta do it, that's the easiest way to go. Now Frank Miller says he's finished writing a sequel instead and will now begin the artwork for the graphic novel. Empire reports that Miller is using the working title Xerxes, which is a pretty big indication that the wost part of 300 is back. Man, that whole Xerxes business in the first movie just didn't do it for me. Miller says the story is "The battle of Marathon through my lens," which is another big clue, because that puts the action about ten years before the events of 300, and since the battle in the new story gave rise to the legend of the marathon runner who ran about 140 miles from Marathon to Sparta seeking Gerard Butler's help. He then ran 25 miles back and dropped dead of a heart attack, or that's what the legend says. What Miller doesn't comment on is the filmmaking family for this prequel. Will Zack Snyder be back? Will Miller - shudder the thought - tackle it solo? And when will it happen? If Miller still has to do the artwork, it probably wouldn't head into production until 2011, you'd think. That schedule would give us the prequel in 2012...is that too long to wait? The success of the first film was kind of an isolated moment, and I don't know if they can replicate it five years later. If Miller's directing, I think that proposition becomes a little more difficult. And Gerard Butler has been fairly non-commital about whether or not he wants to return. That might be a big hurdle to jump, too.

Comments

[mdamien13]

I can see the poster now -- More slow motion! More glistening, hairless male torsos for homophobic jocks to gush over! More freedom-loving white men battling dark-skinned caricatures! More complete disregard for historical accuracy!

Did I mention that I completely hated 300?

[Jason]

There are a number of historical inaccuracies:
-the ephors were not "inbred" perverts they were an elected council of 5 overseers
-Xerxes would have looked NOTHING like in the movie
-Along with the 300 Spartans (and their retainers, helots and some periocoi), there were 800 thespians who chose to stay and die with the Spartans.
-Leonidas was certainly not the last Spartan to die the last morning.
-There was no reason to believe that there was some corrupt member of the gerousia that raped Gorgo!!!!
-Ephialties was not some discarded Spartan, but most likely a local goat herder who knew the paths all along the hills.

Remember too, the movie was not meant to be a historical movie, rather an adaptation of Frank Miller's graphic novel

The historical inaccuracies do nothing to change the fact that the concept of democracy as founded in Athens, and the ideas of the rule of law, seperation of powers and duty as developed in Sparta would not have gained a foothold in the western world had the 300 Spartans (and the 800 Thespians) not stayed and died at Thermopylae.

[mdamien13]

Jason, I agree with you 100% and that's why I can't stand that one of the defining moments of Western Civilization was reduced to a juvenile, cartoonish, bro-fest. Then again even if the movie hadn't been based on a historical event I still would have hated it, but that's beside the point.

For anyone who doesn't want to read Gates of Fire or any of the many non-fiction books available, the History Channel had an amazing special on the actual battle that I try and push on everyone I know who has seen 300 to ensure that they know what actually happened there as well.

[Vince]

I honestly didn't think that this was going to happen but good for them, trying to cash in...I mean "expanding on the lore" of the original story. I'm always wary of these unnecessary sequels/prequels, and this one's no different to me.

Also, this might just be me, but I didn't think that Frank Miller was a bad director or anything. "The Spirit" was a well-made & great looking film, but the story & dialogue were horrendous. So basically, keep Miller relegated to the cinematography and look of the film, keep him the hell away from the script.

[SEAN]

Couldn't agree more with mdamien13 & Jason.....

Completely hated the film, I understand why people like it I guess, the action junkies, but the historical inaccuracy was just plain absurd and disturbing...

I mean didn't anyone of the stars like Gerard ever stop and think "hey you this is so wrong what were making these people turn out to be"

I mean the film kinda borders on racism & hate & if you want me to elaborate why & how I gladly will
---But I found really nothing "bad ass" about the characters like many of my friends did but their also smart enough to know the film kinda sucks

[Jason]

Mdamien,
I guess I see where you are coming from now. I actually did enjoy the movie thoroughly. The only thing I would say in its defense from a historical perspective, is that I think the ancient Greeks would have appreciated the "heroic" nature of the film. By that I mean the larger than life feel and the positive exaggerations of the Greeks and the negative ones of the Persians and their various vassal states.

I however, don't agree with the contention of racism at all. The Spartans would have looked ethnically much like they were depicted (if a bit shorter), and the Persian army would have fighters from all corners of the empire, many of them darker skinned or with more "ethnic" features. And i believe that much of the overdone stylization of the Persians is in line with how the Greeks would have seen them: as strange looking barbarians.