300: BATTLE OF ARTEMISIA (No Leonidas)

• 300: BATTLE OF ARTEMISIA

The original film launched both director Zack Snyder and star Gerard Butler onto the A-list.

Leonidas played by Gerard Butler

We all knew that Snyder wouldn’t be returning to the sequel as he his quite busy with Man of Steel, though he did co-write the script. Now it seems that Butler won’t be involved either.

The Scottish-born actor – whose surfing drama Chasing Mavericks is released in October – recently discussed 300: Battle of Artemisia with MTV News, who asked if he would reprise his role as fearless Spartan King Leonidas.

Here’s what Butler had to say:

“Oh, yeah, I’m not doing it. They’re filming [the '300' sequel] right now. I wish them the best, but it didn’t [work out]. It wasn’t really my thing.”

Until now, it had been long-rumored that Butler might have at least a cameo in the film, especially given that the story takes place concurrently with the events of the original 300.

Based on Frank Miller’s Xerxes graphic novel, the film centers largely on the Persian ruler played by Rodrigo Santoro in 300 and features new characters like Greek general Themistocles and Persian naval commander Artemisia.

300: Battle of Artemisia will storm into theaters on August 2nd, 2013.