Despite the fact that all the heroes die at the end of Warner Bros.’ 300, the hit sword-and-sandal epic apparently has a sequel in development. According to Daily Variety, graphic novelist/director Frank Miller is writing a second graphic novel to serve as a blueprint for a new film from Legendary Pictures. Zack Snyder, who directed the first film, is reportedly open to making a second foray into ancient Sparta, provided he likes Miller’s comic. The film would have to be a prequel or focus on entirely different characters, which would mean that Legenday couldn’t cash in on the popularity of King Leonidas as played by Gerard Butler.
Green-screen photography and CG technology allowed the producers of 300 to make the film for $65 million, which is less than half the cost of most Hollywood blockbusters. The film went on to make $456 million worldwide and convince other filmmakers that pics of epic scope could be made relatively on the cheap. Legendary also bankrolled Snyder’s adaptation of Alan Moore’s bestselling graphic novel Watchmen, which comes out next summer. However, the success of 300 has apparently left the company with a taste for mythical heroes. Its next project is a remake of Clash of the Titans for Warner Bros., with Louis Leterrier (The Incredible Hulk) attached to direct.
Snyder is following Watchmen with an animated adaptation of Kathryn Lasky’s young adult book series Guardians of Ga’Hoole for Village Roadshow. Warner Bros. will release the film in theaters as early as 2009 or 2010. The helmer is getting his feet wet in animation with Tales of the Black Freighter, an anime-style DVD feature based on a comic within the Watchmen comic.
Miller, who co-directed Robert Rodriguez’s filmed adaptation of his Sin City graphic novel, took the reins on a big-screen version of the classic Will Eisner comic book series The Spirit. Made in a similar style to Sin City, the pic is slated to hit theaters on Christmas day. Sin City will also get a couple of sequels with Miller’s involvement.
