The Battle of Thermopylae indeed took place in history in 480 B.C. The movie, much like the novel, chronicles a chapter in the Greco-Persian Wars, which started in 499 B.C. But most of the story harks back to a historical past. However, the director sought to amplify the weirdness to make the story more appealing. While on set, Snyder bonded with Miller over their shared interest in low-budget horror movies and samurai films.
Miller was involved in the creative process and served as an executive producer. Gordon wrote the screenplay, and Snyder came on board to direct the venture. Previously, director Michael Mann expressed interest in making a movie on the subject, although his source of inspiration was the novel ‘Gates of Fire’ by Steven Pressfield. Producer Gianni Nunnari acquired the rights to the comic book miniseries for an adaptation, but he was not the first one to make a movie on the Battle of Thermopylae. However, he traveled to Greece and did thorough research on the topic before putting the story together, and despite the fantastical appendages, the core story is true to the bone. Incidentally, Miller was inspired by Rudolph Maté’s 1962 CinemaScope epic movie ‘The 300 Spartans.’ Miller stumbled upon the film at the age of six. While adapting it for the screen, Snyder mostly adhered to the graphic novel, from the quintessential gore to the color palette. The Persian army naturally did not comprise fantastical creatures, and the world was not painted with the contrast-enhancing “crush.” Zack Snyder’s screen adaptation is a scene-by-scene remake of the eponymous comic book by author and inker Frank Miller, who co-wrote the story with Lynn Varley.Īfter creating the likes of ‘ Daredevil,’ ‘Big Guy and Rusty the Boy Robot,’ and ‘Sin City,’ Frank Miller is not a new name in popular culture. Although the movie helped evoke a rekindled interest in ancient Greek history, the film is not set out to provide a history lesson. ‘300’ is partially based on a true story. But if you are wondering how much of the story borrows from history, let us probe into the matter. After spoofs, sequels, and countless memes, the movie has made its place in popular imagination. The story is painted with a dark and demure golden hue, subsequently dubbed “the crush.” The movie was a groundbreaking success at the box offices, and Gerard Butler’s performance in the central role drew critical attention.