300: Rise of an Empire has quickly climbed to the second spot on Netflix’s Top 10 movies chart. However, it has left some viewers perplexed, as they are unsure if it serves as a prequel, sequel, or if Zack Snyder had any involvement in its production.
Though Snyder’s directorial debut was 2003’s Dawn of the Dead, it was not until three years later with 300, an epic swords-and-sandals film based on Frank Miller’s gory comic book, that he truly showcased his signature style, which is also evident in his work on the DCEU movies.
The film was a remarkable triumph, earning $456 million internationally and attaining a lasting place in popular culture; even today, people still quote Gerard Butler’s iconic line, “This is Sparta!”
The franchise was revived in 2014 with 300: Rise of an Empire, but it is not a typical sequel. If you are only vaguely familiar with it from seeing it in theaters, or if it was your first time watching it, it would be understandable to feel a bit confused.
According to one user’s tweet, it wasn’t until an hour and 20 minutes into 300: Rise of an Empire that they realized it was not the same movie as 300. Another user also questioned if 300: Rise of an Empire was a separate film from 300, as seen in their tweet.
This film serves as both a prequel and a sequel, incorporating scenes from the original movie with returning actors Lena Headey, Peter Mensah, and Rodrigo Santoro.
Despite appearing in archive footage, Butler does not reprise his role as Leonidas in the film. Instead, the focus is on Sullivan Stapleton’s Themistocles as he attempts to rally Greece against the Persian invasion. This task includes defeating King Darius (Yigal Naor) and facing off against the fierce leader of the Persian armada, Artemisia (Eva Green).
Similarly to its predecessor, the movie is a dramatized retelling of the conflicts that occurred during the Greco-Persian Wars. The majority of the story is based on Miller’s unpublished sequel, Xerxes.
It is worth noting that Snyder has announced plans to create a 300 prequel TV series for Warner Bros, indicating that there may be further stories featuring the Spartans in the near future.
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