Once called XERXES, before being retitled 300: THE BATTLE FOR ARTEMISIA, before that was then changed to 300: THE BATTLE FOR ARTEMISIUM, the long planned prequel to Frank Miller/Zack Snyder’s 300 has undergone yet another title change. And with those previous clunkers destined to strain the pronunciation skills of mass audiences around the world it’s not hard to see why.

The film, currently in production, will now be known as 300: RISE OF AN EMPIRE. No fear of embarrassing mispronunciations at the ticket office with that one. And note the clever incorporation of one of the most overused words in recent cinema output, “rise”. Studios bloody love the word. RISE OF THE MACHINES; RISE OF THE PLANET OF THE APES; RISE OF THE LYCHANS; DARK KNIGHT RISES; HANNIBAL RISING; RISE OF THE SILVER SURFER; VAN WILDER 2: RISE OF TAJ, the list goes on!

As previously reported, the prequel movie will be based on Miller’s new graphic novel due next year (that one stuck to its guns and is still called XERXES), and will follow the titular character’s “search for godhood” according to the acclaimed creator. It will most likely also feature an inordinate amount of sweaty men wearing nappies.

300: RISE OF AN EMPIRE opens August 2nd 2013.

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