Frank Miller’s “300″ Prequel Is Called “Xerxes”

LA Times spoke with Frank Miller about the follow up to 30 (earned $456 million in theaters worldwide) which will be titles “Xerxes.” It takes place about ten years before the events of 300.

“It’s the battle of Marathon through my lens,” Miller said. “I’ve finished the plot and I’m getting started on the artwork.”

The Battle of Marathon was fought about 26 miles from Athens by an Athenian army against a Persian force led by the Emperor Darius I, in 490 BC. The Greeks numbers around 10,000 and the Persians anywhere from twice to ten times that.

The Athenians beat the Persians back – but not before sending a runner 150 miles to Sparta to ask for help. The Spartans turned up a day or two later, after Athenians turned out victorious. Darius’ son Xerxes then seeks revenge in 480BC that leads to the battle in “300.”

Miller said he is not surprised Greece is resurgent in Hollywood.

Every generation returns to ancient Greece because, well, the stories are so damn good,

said the artist, who also directed last year’s ‘The Spirit.’ Miller said that during his research trips to Greece he realized that the myth and history overlap begins to blur, which adds to the storytelling allure,” the publication further explains.