Warner Bros. chooses directors for 300 sequel 300: Battle of Artemisia and live-action Akira films

Warner Bros. has tapped Noam Murro to direct its 300 spin-off, 300: Battle of Artemisia, which was formerly known as Xerses, according to THR. The Israeli director of the 2008 movie Smart People, was up for the project along with Jaum Collet-Serra, who directed the Liam Neeson thriller Unknown. But Collet-Serra isn’t quite out of a job. He’ll apparently helm the upcoming live-action adaptation of the cult classic anime Akira.

300: Battle of Artemisia is based on Frank Miller’s upcoming graphic novel that takes Xerxes, the Persian leader and antagonist of 300, and turns him into more of a pivotal figure. He’s a man in search of godhood after the death of his father, battling an Athenian warlord named Themistocles. The story takes place over the course of several years, but the focal point is the battle of Artemisium, which occured in 480 BC.

Zack Snyder, who directed 300, wrote the script with his 300 co-writer Kurt Johnstad.

Artemisia will be shot in the same stylized method as 300.

Noam Murro is also attached to direct the in-development Die Hard 5 movie.