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Gerard Butler will remember his whole life on the shooting of this peplum which cost him physically … and psychologically.
“I ruined my body”
This by these words that Gerard Butler describes his experience on the set of 300. The Peplum of Zack Snyder, released 14 years earlier, is still in all memories. This free adaptation of the graphic novel by Frank Miller Chronicle Chronicle The Battle of Thermopyles, which opposed in the year -480 King Leonidas and 300 Spartan soldiers to Xerxes and the immense Persian army.
It was Butler who slipped into the light outfit of Léonidas. If we only keep from him his famous replica – fully improvised – “This is sparta” (“We are Spartans” in VF), the actor nevertheless gave himself physically for this role.
Despite its already imposing stature, the studios impose a drastic training: six hours of sport per day, two hours of crossfit, including Halterophilie-Course-Gymnastics), two hours of bodybuilding and two hours of combat choreography.
“I have never been in such a physical form again. Somewhere, I ruined my body, but I looked superb by doing it!” he declared to the Hollywood Reporter.
But that's not all: while Zack Snyder absolutely wants Butler in his team, the Warner studios brake his momentum. In particular, Alan Horn. The latter revealed in interview Having asked him to quit smoking if he wanted to win this coveted role. What Butler has agreed to do, with great difficulties!
Chaotic shooting
If the preparation of the distribution of 300 – which also includes Lena Headey, Michael Fassbender and Dominic West – was intense, the shooting was just as much. Zack Snyder used blue funds in 90% of its peplum, asking its actors a great capacity for adaptation … and imagination.
But it was the battle scenes – ultra -spectacular and violent – who asked the actors to the actors. According to Butler, “Every day, someone was taken to hospital”after being injured on the set.
But all of this did not prevent 300 from hitting the box office, far from it. With 450 million dollars won worldwide for a budget of 65 million green tickets, Zack Snyder's war film is one of the most unique gender.
And he leaves Netflix on June 30.
