Gerard Butler capitalizing on "300" success

Few people were familiar with Gerard Butler before 300 came out, but with millions still flocking to see his war picture, he's been propelled into the big leagues of recognition. Butler has starred in high-profile pictures before -- he was the phantom in The Phantom Of The Opera, after all -- but they never generated the kind of heat that the Scotsman and his chiseled abs are now getting for 300.

The success of 300 has already helped land Butler the lead role in the upcoming Escape From New York remake, and other offers continue to pour in. Butler's always had acting chops, but there's something about playing a buff king in a hit movie that resonates with studio execs. Butler himself said that he had to let go in order to portray 300's King Leonidas was conviction: "This was the role, you know, I mean it was kind of, really interesting for me to toy with that, to let out an arrogance and let out, a kind of, a super confidence and yet, an incredible humanity and compassion."

His other credits include Dracula 2000, Reign Of Fire, and the Tomb Raider movie.
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