The Persian king continues to be recycled as a monstrous antagonist in popular media.

Evidence

According to the Los Angeles Times, Frank Miller is planning a prequel to 300 called Xerxes that will also feature Ephialtes. Other reports claim the prequel will focus on Darius, the Persian king who ruled before Xerxes. — Sophia Rose Arjana, Muslims in the Western Imagination, 1305

Categorization

• XREF: Connects to the book’s earlier argument that Persian rulers are cast as archetypal Muslim monsters; shows the pattern persists in planned 300 prequels.
• QUESTION: Whether the prequel’s focus shifted suggests media makers keep recentering the Persian king as the West’s foil.