As far as a prequel/sequel to Zack Snyder‘s stylistic epic 300 goes, we’ve3 always known that he was up for doing it and it all rested in what graphic novel creator Frank Miller came up with first. Well, Miller has completed his work on the upcoming Dark Horse title and it must be pretty gosh-darn great.

Speaking to the LA Times, Snyder confirmed “We closed the writing deal on Xerxes. We started writing about a week ago, so we’re doing it. It’s happening.” But while the writing deal is done and work has begun on the script, the movie AND Snyder as a director isn’t yet a guarantee…though he clearly wants it to be. The director goes on to say “It’s really going to depend on what the studio wants to do and what we do when we finish; I don’t have a directing deal in place but we are writing it, so call it intent. If there was a crime they could probably convict me.”

So what might the prequel be about? Allow Snyder to share the dirty details!

This is all well and good, but one thing fans have been dying to see is exactly how the battle of Plataea unfolded. If you’ll recall, the end of 300 showed 10,000 Spartans joined by 30,000 Greeks ready to disintegrate the Persian army. We of course did not get to see how that battle would have looked, and all desperately hoped it would be one aspect of the sequel. Being as how it’s obviously a prequel, does that mean there’s no chance of this battle being used, or will it show up at some point? As I’ve said before, if this new movie was just a two-hour Battle of Plataea, I’d freakin’ see it! Let us all hope that there is still at least one small sequel portion to the movie showing this off.

In any case, this confirmation is just another step toward seeing Xerxes happen, and that’s good news indeed.