300: Rise of an Empire told in the breathtaking visual style of the blockbuster 300, is a new chapter of the epic saga, which takes the action to a new battlefield-the sea!

The story pits the Greek general Themistokles against the massive invading Persian forces, ruled by the mortal-turned-god Xerxes, and led by Artemisia, the vengeful commander of the Persian navy.

Knowing his only hope of defeating the overwhelming Persian armada will be to unite all of Greece, Themistokles ultimately leads the charge that will change the course of the war.

Warner Bros. Pictures and Legendary Pictures present a Cruel and Unusual Films/Mark Canton/Gianni Nunnari Production, 300: Rise of an Empire. The action adventure stars Sullivan Stapleton (Gangster Squad) as Themistokles and Eva Green (Dark Shadows, Casino Royale) as Artemisia. Reprising their roles from 300, Lena Headey stars as the Spartan Queen, Gorgo; David Wenham appears as Dilios; Andrew Tiernan plays Ephialtes; Andrew Pleavin plays Daxos; and Rodrigo Santoro returns in the role of the Persian God-King, Xerxes. The main cast also includes Hans Matheson as Themistokles's closest friend and advisor, Aeskylos; Callan Mulvey and Jack O'Connell as father and son soldiers, Scyllias and Calisto; and Igal Naor as the Persian King Darius.

The film was directed by Noam Murro, from a screenplay by Zack Snyder and Kurt Johnstad, based on the graphic novel Xerxes, by Frank Miller. Gianni Nunnari, Mark Canton, Zack Snyder, Deborah Snyder and Bernie Goldmann produced the film, with

Thomas Tull, Frank Miller, Stephen Jones, Craig J. Flores and Jon Jashni serving as executive producers.

The behind-the-scenes creative team includes director of photography Simon Duggan, production designer Patrick Tatopoulos, editors Wyatt Smith and David Brenner, costume designer Alexandra Byrne, and visual effects supervisors Richard Hollander and John "DJ" Desjardin. The music is by Junkie XL.

Opening nationwide on March 7, 2014, the film is being released in 3D and 2D in select theatres and IMAX, and will be distributed worldwide by Warner Bros. Pictures, a Warner Bros. Entertainment Company.

300: Rise of an Empire is rated R by the MPAA for strong sustained sequences of stylized bloody violence throughout, a sex scene, nudity and some language.

Check out the photos from the premiere, which features members of the cast and crew!