Watch: First Muscular & Melodramatic Trailer For '300: Rise Of An Empire'

The bad news: it’s been pushed a whole year until March 2014. The good news is, the new trailer for “300: Rise of an Empire” is here, even if it’s now nine months early (maybe everyone figured, “hell, it’s done!”). Don’t look for many original players (though a few are back). Zack Snyder‘s not directing (though he is producing), Gerard Butler and all those dudes bit it at the end of the first film. Instead you’ve got filmmaker Noam Murro, the indie director behind 2008’s “Smart People,” who must have put together some impressive promo reel to convince Warner Bros. he could go from that tiny, talky indie to this would-be tentpole.

There aren’t a lot of stars either. Sullivan Stapleton (“Gangster Squad”) plays Themistokles and Eva Green (“Dark Shadows,” “Casino Royale”) plays the villaness Artemisia. Lena Headey reprises her starring role from “300” as the Spartan Queen, Gorgo; Hans Matheson (“Clash of the Titans”) stars as Aeskylos; David Wenham returns as Dilios, and Rodrigo Santoro stars again as the Persian King, Xerxes.

Here’s the film’s official synopsis:

Based on Frank Miller’s latest graphic novel Xerxes, and told in the breathtaking visual style of the blockbuster “300,” this new chapter of the epic saga takes the action to a fresh battlefield—on the sea—as Greek general Themistokles attempts to unite all of Greece by leading the charge that will change the course of the war.

“300: Rise of an Empire” pits Themistokles against the massive invading Persian forces led by mortal-turned-god Xerxes, and Artemisia, vengeful commander of the Persian navy.

Warner Bros. Pictures and Legendary Pictures present, a Cruel and Unusual Films/Mark Canton/Gianni Nunnari Production, “300: Rise of an Empire.”

Written by Zack Snyder & Kurt Johnstad, based on the graphic novel “Xerxes,” by Frank Miller, “300: Rise of an Empire” hits theaters March 7, 2014. Trailer and new poster below.