Last week, Collider spoke to producers Mark Canton, Gianni Nunnari, and Bernie Goldmann of 300, as well as director Zack Snyder, who all confirmed they were still hoping for a follow-up of some kind to 300. Today, Variety is reporting it as a done deal.

There are so many things wrong with this story that I just don't know where to begin. First, it wasn't cool of Variety to scoop Collider, and not credit them. But honestly, I can't believe the trades even ran this story. I mean no disrespect to Collider, as they ran it in the right context, but Variety is implying that this is on the verge of being filmed. Any 300 spin-off is entirely theoretical at this point, as it depends on a book that Frank Miller is only believed to be writing. No one even knows if he's jotted an outline down, let alone what it will be about. I watched Collider's interview with the aforementioned producers -- and with all due respect, when asked point blank if they had been in contact with Miller, they didn't answer. That doesn't confirm a solid project. I'm going to go out on a limb here, and suggest Miller hasn't given it a second thought since the movie came out.

And that brings me to my final complaint -- why, in the name of Sparta, is this project still being discussed? Some excited and crazy speculation when the movie made a gazillion dollars was one thing; to keep flogging it as a future project is just lame. Sure, the Greco-Persian Wars are ripe for several movies -- there's the legendary Battle of Marathon (which, admittedly, would be pretty cool), and the battle of Plataea that's glimpsed at the end of 300. There's a juicy dynastic tale of intrigue and bloodshed between Leonidas and his successor and half brother, Cleomenes, which even involves the politically brilliant Queen Gorgo if one fills in between the lines.

None of it, not even Marathon, needs to be done as a 300 spinoff. I enjoyed every minute of 300; it was fun, visually stunning, and refreshingly unapologetic. Everything about Miller's graphic novel lent itself to the approach Snyder took. It worked once -- it won't work again. I don't want to see all of Herodotus filmed on green-screen to the accompaniment of electric guitar. So, Legendary Films, please let 300 stand on its own, and devote your energies to the mythology of ancient Greece instead.