300: BATTLE OF ARTEMISIA (Update)

• 300: BATTLE OFARTEMISIA or ARTEMISIUM??

The filmmakers are reportedly looking at casting an unknownactress for the female lead of "Artemisia" in 300: Battle ofArtemisia, with screen-testing to happen soon.

Artemisia first women general in Persia

Moviehole says the Noam Murro-directed film is now titled 300: The Battle of Artemisium and that its events will take place concurrent withthose depicted in the original Zack Snyder-directed film. It will also be toldfrom the point-of-view of Xerxes, the villain of that film.

Citing casting agents, Moviehole claims Artemisia persuadesXerxes to go to war with the Greeks using her "vindictive charm" andexploiting the death of his father, King Darius, at the hands of the Greeks:

"Artemisia, on her hunt for a group of men to joinXerxes in the battle against the Greeks, doesn't stop at brainwashing Xerxes.She also manages to convince Themistocles (the character Animal Kingdom starJoel Edgerton is in talks to play) to side with her somewhat. Though thePersians took his family, and he's spent ten years training the Greeks forbattle, Artemisia has such an allure about her that the muscly Greek is taken.Ultimately, she convinces him that his life will be better off if he swapssides. But this guy's also as good a liar as he is a fighter."