Director Noam Murro talks 300: Rise of an EmpirePosted by Wilson Morales
March 4, 2014
Coming out this week is ‘300: Rise of an Empire,’ the sequel to Zack Snyder’s ‘300.’
Based on Frank Miller’s latest graphic novel “Xerxes” and told in the breathtaking visual style of the blockbuster “300,” 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 Artemesia (Eva Green), vengeful commander of the Persia.
As a multi-award winning commercials director, for Noam Murro, the film is closer to his style of direction as opposed to 2004 film debut with Smart People, starring Sarah Jessica Parker.
In speaking with Blackfilm.com, Murro talks about the difference between his film and 300 and what his actors Sullivan Stapleton and Eva Green bring to their characters.
Although Smart People was your first theatrical film, would you say this film is closer to the work you had done in the ad world?
Noam Murro: Absolutely. I love that and Ilove the operatic quality. I wouldn’t do it if it wasn’t like that. There is a true operatic expression here and I grew close to that world.
How was working with Zack in terms of adding in your style and combining it with what the previously film had shown?
NM: This film and it’s true for everyone who was involved in it, we didn’t want to make a copycat. We didn’t want to make something that looked exactly the same. We needed to have enough roots in it so it connects with the original. With the studio, Zack, Kurt (Johnstad), and myself, we were all looking for how do you take that idea and push it forward. Seven years later, how do you create a movie that’s based on a movie where everybody died at the end and create something new. From a conception point of view, the beginning of it is interesting because it really is another perspective on the same thing that happened. That part of it is incredible. The fact that it’s happening on the water in incredible and idea of having a female protagonist villain. All these things are new and we created something that has enough connections to the old one but I think we pushed it forward.
Eva Green is just amazing as Artemisia. What did you want the audience to get from the character?
NM: The main thing about this is that you have a woman villain that is unapologetic. I think that is one of the most interesting things about it because a lot of times when you have women in strong roles, they seem to need to apologize for who they are. The beauty about this is that there is no apology here. She’s driven, she’s hurt, she’s mad, she’s strong, she’s sexy and that combination is rare in the way you see women villains in films.
What were you looking to get from Sullivan Stapleton that would have him stand apart from Gerard Butler/Leonidas?
NM: I saw Sullivan in a movie called ‘Animal Kingdom’ and he was incredible in it. In Themistokles, we were looking for someone who’s not replicating Leonidas. This is a different guy. This is a guy who came from the wrong side of the tracks, and who is also a politician and not just a warrior. His points have to be proved. He needs to win his argument. He’s driven because he’s a politician. His drive is like any other politician. He wants to be successful and powerful and he’s got ideology. So, the complexity of that character is very different from a king. There is a different layer and a different shade as to how that character acts.
Without revealing any spoilers, is there any room to continue with this story?
NM: The answer, if you ask me, is absolutely yes. Whether this is going to happen, I don’t know, but I sure hope so. It needs it and it’s worthy of it.
Prior to taking on this project and after Smart People, your name had been rumored for other big projects and franchises. Were you cautious about whether this would happened?
NM: Until you shoot, you never know and you do your best. That’s part of the struggle of filmmaking. If you can’t take that heat, then don’t be in the kitchen. It’s a tall order and you hope that it happens, and this instance, it did and it was fantastic.
What else would you like to do?
NM: It’s a good question. I have other projects that are in development, but I think dramatic action would be good.
Will there be anything on the DVD that didn’t make the film?
NM: No. There are a couple of deleted scenes, but mainly, this is the movie we shot. There’s one shot that I really wanted in, but didn’t. Other than that, it’s all there.
What more can you say about 300: Rise of an Empire?
NM: It is a bad ass, operatic, comic strip story of history. It’s not necessary through the History Channel, it’s through storytelling. Why wouldn’t you go for two hours and experience an operatic story that will take you back into that time.
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