The action adventure <i>300: Rise of an Empire</i> is the highly anticipated follow-up to the 2007 international blockbuster 300.<br><br>Based on Frank Miller's latest graphic novel <i>Xerxes</i>, <i>300: Rise of an Empire</i> is produced by Gianni Nunnari, Mark Canton, Zack Snyder, Deborah Snyder and Bernie Goldmann, and directed by Noam Murro from a screenplay by Zack Snyder & Kurt Johnstad. Told in the breathtaking visual style of <i>300</i> 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 Artemisia (Eva Green), vengeful commander of the Persian navy.<br><br><i>300: Rise of an Empire</i> also stars Lena Headey, Hans Matheson, and David Wenham, and will be released in theaters on August 2, 2013.