Over the last few months, development of the Warner Bros Pictures 300 prequel continued to tease with news of Gerard Butler and Lena Headey having “small parts” in the film directed by Noam Murro (Smart People). At the beginning of this month, the studio progressed to talks with Joel Edgerton (Great Gatsby, The Thing) to star in this follow up to Zack Snyder’s 2006 stylized epic.

According to Moviehole, the film has undergone a title tweaking with the new title of 300: The Battle of Artemisium, evolving from its previous name, 300: Battle of Artemisia. It looks like director Noam Murro does not necessarily want a known actress in the role of the goddess Artemisia. Just who is Artemisia? Check out what casting agents were given to find the right actress for the part:

“Xerxes (Rodrigo Santoro) is somewhat pushed into the bloody battle with the Greeks by the gold-covered maven goddess Artemisia. Artemisia, witnessing just how much his father King Darius’s death has affected him, persuades Xerxes – with her “vindictive charm” – to go into battle against those responsible.”

Artemisia has her hooks in more than one major player. She will try to turn Themistocles (the role that Joel Edgerton is in talks for) see her point of view.

Another change to this film is that the timeline will now primarily take place concurrently to that of 300.  There will be portions of the film that occur before 300 as well as after but this spin-off will see things from the point of view of Xerxes and the Persians.

Who would you cast as Artemisia?