Michael Fassbender Had the Most Iconic Line Ever in This 2006 Thriller

Since stepping into the role of Magneto in X-Men: First Class, Michael Fassbender has become cinematic and Marvel royalty, including roles in gems like 300 and Inglourious Basterds. However, the superhero prequel wasn’t his first foray into the world of comic book adaptations, with a 2006 epic remaining one of his greatest projects.

The last two decades have steadily become defined by comic book adaptations, turning to the work of creators like Frank Miller, Mark Millar, and Steve Niles for inspiration. Superhero films often dominate at the box office, but other comic adaptations have had a strong impact on pop culture, including the 2006 epic 300.

Frank Miller Changed the Spartan Legend With 300

Michael Fassbender and Gerard Butler wearing armor in 300

The legend of the Spartans has long been popular among Greek mythology and history buffs, with King Leonidas’ defiance of Persian Emperor Xerxes remaining an iconic chapter in the past. Renowned for the uneven odds between the two forces, the conflict has made its way into numerous films and novels.

In 1998, Frank Miller gave Dark Horse readers his own take on the battle in his 300 miniseries. Using the advantages of the comic book medium to its fullest potential, he filled the story with superhero-inspired action, breathtaking visuals and exaggerated artistic license of events.

Telling the tale of Leonidas and his three-hundred warriors fending off an attack of one million Persians, the story was a visual treat on every page. Using the red capes of the Spartans to resemble those of a superhero, the five-issue miniseries was just the latest reminder of Dark Horse’s winning streak throughout the decade.

When Zack Snyder adapted 300 to the big screen in 2006, his direction, paired with Miller’s story, completely shifted how the world saw the battle. Much to the dismay of many historians, the story traded nuance and historical accuracy for a clean-cut good-versus-evil saga.

The Persians became ruthless conquerors who slaughtered all who stood in their way, while the Spartans were depicted as flawless, almost superhuman warriors. Although some dislike this, it lent a distinctly comic book-inspired tone to the movie that both did justice to Miller’s vision and won over fans.

Where Ridley Scott breathed new life into the sword and sandal genre in 2000’s Gladiator, Zack Snyder completely redefined it for the 21st century. Scott’s movie had felt like a grand epic akin to classics like Spartacus and Ben-Hur, while Snyder’s movie was a distinctly modern, stylized take on the genre.

Michael Fassbender Had an Iconic Line in 300

Alongside stars like Gerard Butler, Lena Headey, and Dominic West, Michael Fassbender was given one of his earliest prominent roles in 300. Here, he played Stelios, one of Leonidas’ best and closest warriors, a character who proves himself one of the most resourceful soldiers on the field.

After the Persians threaten the Spartans with their arrows, an envoy declaring “our arrows will block out the sun,” Stelios calmly responds, “Then we shall fight in the shade.” When the archers finally make good on their threat, the line becomes a rare moment of humor for the story, earning laughs from Spartans and audiences alike.

In the years since the film’s release, “Then we shall fight in the shade” has become a great reference to the defiance of the Spartans and the spirit of the movie itself. A story all about one of the greatest underdog battles ever fought, it helps humanize the otherwise stoic and serious Spartans.

Above all else, it helped Fassbender find his own moment in the spotlight, stealing the show for a moment and holding the attention of viewers. It was undoubtedly thanks to this movie that the actor went on to land roles in some of the greatest big-budget movies of the following decade, including X-Men: First Class and Prometheus.

Consistently proving his skills as an actor to the world, Fassbender went from obscure at the time of 300 to a modern icon. In movies like Black Bag and the later X-Men prequels, he became as much a beloved actor as a part of Marvel movie history.

Frank Miller Adaptations Gave Hollywood True Classics

As great as 300 is, it isn’t the only example of Frank Miller’s comics making an impression on moviegoers. Alongside Zack Snyder’s Spartan epic, the writer-artist also gave the world stories like Sin City, the inspiration for Christopher Nolan’s Dark Knight trilogy and virtually every Daredevil project ever made.

As one of the creators who helped reshape comics in the 1980s, alongside titans like Alan Moore and Jim Shooter, his work continues to make its way to Hollywood. With iconic comics like The Dark Knight Returns and Daredevil under his belt, Frank Miller remains one of the greatest living creators the industry has.

In 2006, Zack Snyder proved his 300 was always destined for the big screen, and Michael Fassbender helped make it iconic before joining the X-Men franchise.