©Courtesy of Warner Brothers
A television series adaptation of the acclaimed action film 300 is in early development by Warner Bros. Television, Variety is reporting. While there aren’t any writers currently attached to the project, and exact plot details are still being developed, the show is expected to serve as a prequel to the 2007 movie.
Deals are still being negotiated on behalf of the series, which is still seeking a platform. But Zack Snyder, who directed and co-wrote 300, is in negotiations to helm and executive produce the show.
The filmmaker’s wife, Deborah Snyder, who executive produced 300, will also return to the franchise to serve as an executive producer under their Stone Quarry production banner. Wesley Coller, who also works at the company, is also attached to the small screen adaptation.
Gianni Nunnari, Mark Canton and Bernie Goldmann, all of whom also served as producers on the movie, are likewise in talks to return to the television series.
In Zack’s second directorial effort, he tells a fictionalized take on the Battle of Thermopylae in the Greco-Persian Wars. Leonidas (Gerard Butler), the king of Sparta, leads a small force of elite soldiers against the much larger army of Xerxes I of Persia (Rodrigo Santoro).
Besides Butler and Santoro, the movie’s cast also included Lena Headey, David Wenham, Dominic West, Vincent Regan, Tom Wisdom and Michael Fassbender.
The drama was a massive box hit upon its release in theaters in March 2007. It earned over $450 million at the global box office against a reported budget of $65 million. The film was a breakout hit in part because of its visuals.
As a result of its success, the feature inspired numerous parodies, including the 2008 movie, Meet the Spartans and the South Park episode, D-Yikes!
The historical movie also spawned a sequel, 300: Rise of an Empire, was released in 2014. The follow-up movie, which was based on Miller’s graphic novel Xerxes, was written by Zack Snyder. Noam Murro, who was known for directing the 2008 comedy-drama, Smart People, took over the helming duties from Snyder on the franchise’s second film installment.
Multiple original cast members returned to the reprise their roles in the series’ second entry, including Headey and Santoro. Sullivan Stapleton took on the lead role of Themistocles. Fellow newcomers Eva Green, Hans Matheson and Callan Mulvey joined the sequel.
300: Rise of an Empire was less well received than its predecessor. But the follow-up still grossed $337 million worldwide on a $110 million budget.
If the 300 television show is produced, it would be the latest in a long line of movies that’s being adapted for television. Studios are continuously relying on recognizable IP for inspiration in their pursuit of new television projects in the streaming world.
Amazon, for example, recently ordered a Legally Blonde prequel series about the high school years of its popular protagonist, Elle Woods. The streamer also released a television show based on Angelina Jolie and Brad Pit’s hit 2005 action movie, Mr. and Mrs. Smith. The television adaptation, which stars Donald Glover and Maya Erskine, was released earlier this year.
Apple, meanwhile, is preparing a television series that’s based on Time Bandits. Other recent showthat were based on movies include Fatal Attraction, Sexy Beast and Dead Ringers.
Warner Bros. Television has not yet commented on the development of the 300 television adaptation.
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