We’ve been hearing about a 300 prequel/sequel/spinoff for a while now, but we knew it would be a long while before we actually saw it because creator Frank Miller still had to work on the graphic novel for which the movie would be based. In fact, it was almost one year ago that Zack Snyder confirmed that he was working on the script for the prequel, and we haven’t heard much of anything major since then.

At that time it was unclear whether or not Snyder would return to direct the movie, which is now titled 300: Battle of Artemisia (previously titled Xerxes, which is the name of Miller’s graphic novel), though it sounded like he very much wanted to, saying “It’s really going to depend on what the studio wants to do…I don’t have a directing deal in place but we are writing it, so call it intent. If there was a crime they could probably convict me.” But we now know that what the studio (Warner Brothers) wanted, was for Snyder to take on their reboot of Superman, titled Man of Steel, which will star Henry Cavill, Amy Adams, and Michael Shannon, to name a few.

As far as a prequel/sequel to Zack Snyder‘s stylistic epic 300 goes, we’ve3 always known that he was up for doing it and it all rested in what graphic novel creator Frank Miller came up with first. Well, Miller has completed his work on the upcoming Dark Horse title and it must be pretty gosh-darn great.

Speaking to the LA Times, Snyder confirmed “We closed the writing deal on Xerxes. We started writing about a week ago, so we’re doing it. It’s happening.” But while the writing deal is done and work has begun on the script, the movie AND Snyder as a director isn’t yet a guarantee…though he clearly wants it to be. The director goes on to say “It’s really going to depend on what the studio wants to do and what we do when we finish; I don’t have a directing deal in place but we are writing it, so call it intent. If there was a crime they could probably convict me.”

The trades are reporting that 20th Century Fox has made a deal to acquire a pitch that would see the story of Moses from the Bible being retold using the highly-visual green screen styles that were used in the filming of Zack Snyder’s 300. The movie is expected to cover all of the chapters of the life of Moses, including almost dying as an infant, standing up to the Pharaoh, freeing the Hebrews from slavery, the plagues, and of course, the parting of the Red Sea.

The script is being written by Adam Cooper and Bill Collage, who recently wrote a new take on the classic tale of Moby Dick with a graphic novel vibe to it that is being developed for Wanted director Timur Bekmambetov.

300: The Complete Experience
Blu-ray Edition
Directed by Zack Snyder
Starring Gerard Butler, Lena Headey, David Wenham, Dominic West
Warner Bros Home Video
Release Date: July 21, 2009

If people loved the way Sin City (another Frank Miler comic book) was made with such flavor that popped off of the screen, I am sure that people will get on their knees and bow for Zack Snyder‘s new kind of filmmaking, a movie simply called 300. It is a bloody, sexual, and extremely violent movie that uses computers unlike any other movie that we’ve seen in past years. Even though I am kind of biased to computer generated movies (Lord of the Rings) this particular one made me sit back and enjoy the visuals that surpasses the greatest PS3 game. I like the natural filmmaking (no blue screen or green screen), not the kind that your next door neighbor can do on his laptop computer while just passing the time. This being something that I’ve never seen before, I let it work its magic and try not to let that ruin the movie, which it didn’t.

This movie is about the Battle of Thermopylae in 480 BC which takes place in a narrow path between mountains on the coast of Greece, which translates to “Hot Gates.” A ripped and honorable King Leonidas (Gerard Butler) has a problem as his 300 army of Spartans are out numbered 100 to 1 as they go to war with the Persian army that includes giants, elephants, rhinoceros, ninjas, and creatures. They are lead by a gay commander (who is a tall man as he towers over everyone) Xerxes (Rodrigo Santoro) who wants everyone to answer to him.

Amazon has a new deal going on right now on select Blu-ray titles to Buy Two Blu-ray Discs, Get One Free.

From now til January 16, 2009, choose two Blu-ray discs from a selection of 240 titles (nine pages’ worth), and get another one free.

Here are some hot items from the list of eligible titles:

• Transformers (Two-Disc Special Edition + BD Live) [Blu-ray] — $24.95
• 300 [Blu-ray] — $22.95
• Pan’s Labyrinth [Blu-ray] — $23.95
• Cloverfield [Blu-ray] — $24.95
• Beowulf [Blu-ray] — $25.95
• Mad Men – Season One [Blu-ray] — $34.95
• Stargate: Continuum [Blu-ray] — $24.95