300 was one of the most talked about movies of early 2007, but no one could have anticipated the film’s box office success. Based on Frank Miller’s graphic novel and adapted for the screen by writer/director Zack Snyder, 300 and its gorgeous visual style conquered the box office bringing in an astounding $70 million during its opening weekend before going on to collect $441 million during its worldwide theatrical release.
300’s popularity was evident at the 2007 MTV Movie Awards where the graphically violent movie was the show’s most nominated film. Had there been a category for Best Male Eye Candy in an Action Film, 300 would surely have taken home that trophy. But despite five nominations, 300 only wound up netting one golden popcorn statuette which went to Gerard Butler for his incredible fight scene against the Uber Immortal.
On the red carpet at the MTV event to support 300, Frank Miller took the time to answer a few of my questions about his upcoming projects – including The Spirit - before heading into the show.
How’s The Spirit going?
“It’s going great. We finished up the script yesterday. The next thing I’m going to be doing is drawing for a few months. We plan on starting shooting sometime around November.”
And is the casting all done?
“No, the casting’s just getting started.”
But you can’t let the cat out of the bag yet…
“No, I’ve had some serious talks with Samuel Jackson. I want him to play The Octopus, the villain. And I hope you trust me from Sin City to pick the right kind of femme fatales for The Spirit to face.”
What’s happening with Sin City 2?
“That’s held up for what looks like a year. No problems on Robert [Rodriguez’] or my end. The script’s all ready to go and we’re raring to go to work together again. But there’s just something holding it up. Some money thing…”
How satisfied were you with Zack Snyder’s adaptation of 300?
“I love what Zack did with the work. He was so faithful, but it was also so visionary. And when I look the Sin City movie and then 300 I see stop motion photography of a supernova going on technologically. I think we’re in for great times.”
How are you going to do The Spirit? Is it going to be that same type of visual style?
“Sure, but we’re bound to make up some new things as we along. (Laughing) So is everybody else.”
The Spirit – Official Synopsis
Adapted from the legendary Will Eisner's graphic novels, The Spirit tells the visceral, action-packed story of a man who fakes his own death and fights crime from the shadows of Central City. The Octopus - who kills anyone unfortunate enough to see his face - has a different mission: he's going to wipe out the entire city. The Spirit tracks this cold-hearted killer from Central City's rundown warehouses, to the damp catacombs, to the windswept waterfront ...all the while facing a bevy of beautiful women who either want to seduce, love or kill our masked crusader.
