Sullivan Stapleton to Play Xerxes in ‘300: Battle of Artemisia’ Prequel?

Though Rodrigo Santoro brought Xerxes to life in Zack Snyder’s comic book adaptation 300, it looks like a different actor will strap on the gold chains for the gestating prequel 300: Battle of Artemisia. Deadline has word that Animal Kingdom star Sullivan Stapleton has landed the villainous role in the film that will follow the Battle of Artemisium, which is where the Persian leader Xerxes fought the warlord named Themistocles (a role that was rumored to go to Joel Edgerton but is not yet cast). The story takes place over several years, but the focal point is the Battle of Artemisium and learning why “Xerxes is the way he is.” Noam Murro is behind the film this time with a script from 300 director Zack Snyder which he wrote with the original film’s co-writer Kurt Johnstad. It should be interesting to see how a director like Murro, who has no …