There will be blood and destruction in this first trailer for 300: RISE OF AN EMPIRE

SPARTANS! AHOO! AHOO! AH- Oh wait, sorry. Wrong movie. Those whooping cough Spartans were actually from Zack Snyder’s original movie, 300. Judging from this first trailer for its sequel, 300: Rise of an Empire, though, it seems like new director Noam Murro – with new leading man, Sullivan Stapleton – is simply just picking up where Snyder left off, both in terms of story as well as look and feel.

Which is actually a really good thing, because as the saying goes, “if it ain’t broke, don’t kick it down a well yelling that ‘THIS… IS… SPARTA!”‘. Or something like that.

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.

If you didn’t enjoy 300, then this will certainly not be changing your mind anytime soon. For everybody else who suddenly found a compulsion to flex your abs while wearing leather sandals and a red sheet around your neck, this looks like just more of that 300 goodness you love. And personally, I ain’t complaining.

The first film made a star and household name out of Gerard Butler, so it will be interesting to see if the same happens with Sullivan Stapleton, whose character, Themistokles, is apparently a bit more complex and has a lot more depth than Butler’s walking beard and six-pack, Leonidus.

300: Rise of an Empire will be invading your cinemas on July 3, 2013.

Last Updated: June 14, 2013