Bye bye Blackley...

It’s been very hard to keep a cast for 300: Battle of Artemisia. The interquel/sequel has had only four confirmed cast members so far, and even getting to the point was a long and arduous process. Now, in a month full of no developments, it seems one of the actors is headed out the door due to a casting disagreement.

HeyUGuys (via CBM) reports that actor Jamie Blackley, who was set to play one of the main roles of Callisto, “has now been dropped from the production altogether in favour of their original choice for the role.” There’s no details as to who has been recast in Blackley’s role, but it’s clear the actor is effectively out. The character is described as ”a teen whose desire to become the heroic man/soldier his father was leads the 16-year-old to become a leader of a small band of soldiers.”

Whoever has been cast joins the previously confirmed Sullivan Stapleton, who has the lead role of anti-hero Themistocles, involved in a battle that eventually intersects with the story of the original 300, and eventually continuing afterwards. It’s here where the villain role of Xerves (Rodrigo Santoro) will come back into play, as well as the new antagonist role from actress Eva Green. Santoro has said some of the film will take place after the ending of 300, but takes place in a setting away from Sparta.

It’s unclear if Gerard Butler, Lena Headey, or others will cameo in the upcoming film, though it is a possibility. Directed by Noam Murro, production will begin later this summer for a release on August 2nd, 2013.