ComingSoon.net has confirmed that Rodrigo Santoro will return in the role of Xerxes in Warner Bros. Pictures and Legendary Pictures' 300: Battle of Artemisia. The actor will be joining Eva Green, Sullivan Stapleton and Jamie Blackley in the film, to be directed by Noam Murro from a script by Kurt Johnstad.

The movie, a follow-up to Zack Snyder's 300 (in turn based on Frank Miller's 1998 comic book miniseries), is expected to tell, in part, the story of Greek General Themistocles, who lead Athens against Persian invaders in a battle that played out simultaneously with the Battle of Thermopylae (depicted in the first film).

Green plays the title role of Artemisia while Stapleton has been cast in the lead role. Blackley plays Calisto, who is inspired by his father to lead a band of soldiers to war.

A release date for the new film has not been set yet.