300: RISE OF AN EMPIRE First Look Images

Sullivan Stapleton is Themistokles in 2 first look photos from Warner Bros. Pictures’ and Legendary Pictures’ action adventure 300: RISE OF AN EMPIRE.

Based on Frank Miller’s latest graphic novel Xerxes and told in the breathtaking visual style of the blockbuster 300, this new chapter of the epic saga takes the action to a fresh battlefield – on the sea – as Greek general Themistokles (Sullivan Stapleton) attempts to unite all of Greece by leading the charge that will change the course of the war. 300: RISE OF AN EMPIRE pits Themistokles against the massive invading Persian forces led by mortal-turned-god Xerxes (Rodrigo Santoro), and Artemesia (Eva Green), vengeful commander of the Persian navy.

300, released in March 2007, was an visual attack on the senses and a live-action/CGI animation combo that brought story-telling to previously unrealized heights in movie making. Starring Gerard Butler, Lena Headey, David Wenham, Rodrigo Santoro, Dominic West, Vincent Regan, and Michael Fassbender, director Zack Snyder’s adventure was the retelling of the ancient Battle of Thermopylae. It depicted the titanic clash in which King Leonidas (Gerard Butler) and 300 Spartans fought to the death against Xerxes (Rodrigo Santoro) and his massive Persian army.

300: RISE OF AN EMPIRE features Lena Headey, Hans Matheson, David Wenham, Igal Naor, Callan Mulvey, Jack O’Connell, and Andrew Tiernan.

Directed by Noam Murro (SMART PEOPLE) with a screenplay by Zack Snyder & Kurt Johnstad, based on the graphic novel Xerxes by Frank Miller, 300: RISE OF AN EMPIRE will be in 3D and 2D in select theaters and IMAX® on August 2.

Photos: Courtesy Warner Bros. Pictures. ©2013 Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. and Legendary Pictures Funding, LLC.