There has been no official promo material released by the studio for this spin-off to the hit 2007 film, 300. Today, we get a look at some candid photos from the set of the film (in Bulgaria) courtesy the film's dietitian, Angie Kassabie, who posted these pictures on her Facebook page.
The photos feature returning series stars Lena Headey in the role of Gorgo, the queen of Sparta, making an appearance in this film without Gerard Butler, the star of 300 who refused to reprise his role. We also get a look at the leading man of the film Sullivan Stapleton (of Strike Back fame) playing Themistocles, the Athenian General who leads a sea attack on the Persian while the Spartans fight them on land. Staleton looks distinctly unSpartan, with a very soft appearance, a far cry from the hyper-chiseled leading man of the last film, Gerard Butler. The "six pack", which Stapleton claimed he acquired for this role and which was notoriously sported by the entire male cast of 300, is nowhere to be seen. The actors in the remaining two pics are unidentified.
We also have these updates from another returning star, Rodrigo Santoro who spoke to ComicBookResources about
300: Rise Of An Empire. Santoro agains plays the main villain of the film.
About the development of the film
It would be about Xerxes at first, but then they changed the whole thing. I would say that you get to know a little bit about backstory, which I thought is pretty cool. It's more like you have the new Athenian, Sullivan. You have Eva Green's character, which is a commander, a naval commander, my naval commander, and you have Xerxes. It gravitates between all three, what's going on.
On Zack Snyder's involvement (Director of 300) and how it ties into that movie
I think it will match, because the idea is matching - characters and style and all that. Especially because they're calling it like a spinoff, you get bits of the first movie. There's a place where they meet, the first movie and the second movie, but it's a different director. I didn't see the movie yet, the final result, but the experience - I mean, Zack was pretty much involved because he wrote it and he's producing it. His hands are there, but Noam will have his own take on directing it. I think it's going to be pretty awesome, and the fans are going to be pleased.