Sullivan Stapleton Cast as Xerxes in 300 Sequel

Animal Kingdom actor Sullivan Stapleton has been cast as Xerxes in Frank Miller's sequel to 300, titled 300: The Battle of Artemisium. The actor will join Eva Green who was previously cast as Artemisia. Noam Murro (Smart People) will be replacing Zack Snyder in the director's chair this time around.

The story follows the Persian king-turned-god Xerxes as he leads "an army against Greek forces, who have little training but are under the guidance of a general named Themistokles. (The giant battle at the center of this movie is supposed to occur at the same time as the fighting in 300.)"

I enjoyed the the first film. It was pretty badass, and it motivated the hell out of me to get into physical shape. Whenever I need to be motivated to go and work out, I just have to watch 300. Are you looking forward to this new ancient Greek fantasy action film?

Here's a previously released synopsis:

Xerxes is somewhat pushed into the bloody battle with the Greeks by the gold-covered maven goddess Artemisia. Artemisia, witnessing just how much his father King Darius’s death has affected him, persuades Xerxes – with her “vindictive charm” – to go into battle against those responsible. 

Artemisia tells Xerxes that he has no choice but to avenge his father’s death and has to man up before becoming king. So, he sets off to become a God because that’s the only way he can win the battle. 

Artemisia, on her hunt for a group of men to join Xerxes in the battle against the Greeks, doesn’t stop at brainwashing Xerxes. She also manages to convince Themistocles (the character “Animal Kingdom” star Joel Edgerton is in talks to play) to side with her somewhat. Though the Persians took his family, and he’s spent ten years training the Greeks for battle, Artemisia has such an allure about her that the muscly Greek is taken. Ultimately, she convinces him that his life will be better off if he swaps sides. But this guy’s also as good a liar as he is a fighter.