[quote]“Rise of an Empire” is not a sequel or a prequel but its own free-standing thing, taking place before, during and after the events of “300.” Directed by TV commercial ace Noam Murro and produced by Snyder, the film sees Brazilian actor Rodrigo Santoro reprise his role as Xerxes, the nefarious 9-foot-tall antagonist. “The movie looks cool. It’s beautiful,” Santoro told Hero Complex in an interview this year. “It’s like ’300′ but there are fresh things in there. It’s a smart way to do a sequel. The fans are going to be pleased.” More of the Persian “God King’s” back story will be revealed in the film, but a new villain — Eva Green’s Artemisia I of Caria — will take the spotlight, along with new protagonist Themistokles (Sullivan Stapleton). “Game of Thrones” star Lena Headey is reprising her role as Queen Gorgo. It is her voice that offers the trailer’s beginning narration. “It begins as whisper,” she says. “A promise. The lightest of breezes dances above the death cries of 300 men. That breeze became a wind. A wind, my brothers, of sacrifice. A wind of freedom. A wind of justice. A wind of vengeance.”[/quote] I think I got a bit of a hard on watching this. Even my boner grew a beard. 300 was amazing. Can't wait!