While the movie 300 depicted brutal conflicts on screen, recalled how the cast experienced their own intense battles every day on set.
While speaking to People, Butler spoke about his experience filming 300, Zack Snyder‘s epic war film set during the Greco-Persian Wars.
Butler explained how the depiction of these extreme fight scenes led to so many injuries that required hospitalization. “I remember every day somebody was getting taken to the hospital,” Butler said. “You’d be doing a fight, you turn around, there’s a guy down there, a spear went in his eye.
Another time, you turn around, there’s a guy over there who just fell, broke his ankle. I mean, it was insane.” In the film, Butler plays Leonidas, the King of Sparta, who leads 300 soldiers to battle against over 300,000 Persian forces.
Released in 2006, 300 became a smash hit, grossing $456 million worldwide against a $65 million budget. The success helped launch Butler’s career as an action star, which is still prominent today.