# Gerard Butler Reveals the Shocking Truth Behind ‘300’ (2006)

Gerard Butler, the Scottish actor who became a household name with his iconic role as King Leonidas in *300* (2006), has finally broken his silence about the chaotic and dangerous conditions on the set of the blockbuster film.

In a recent 2025 interview while promoting *Den of Thieves 2*, Butler told *People* magazine, “Every day somebody was getting taken to the hospital.” The movie, which grossed over $450 million on a $65 million budget, hid a brutal reality behind its polished visuals—actors faced constant injuries, making it one of the most perilous sets in Hollywood history.

Filmed in just 60 days at Montreal’s now-defunct Ice Storm Studios, *300* relied heavily on blue-screen technology, with nearly every scene digitally enhanced. Of the 1,523 shots, over 130 featured visual effects, crafted by 10 companies over a year.

The surreal environment, with nothing tangible to react to, added mental strain to an already grueling process. Butler himself tore a tendon in his arm and developed foot drop, relying on stunt double Tim Connolly—who also played Leonidas’ father—for the most dangerous scenes.

The physical toll was immense. Butler recounted actors getting speared in the eye and breaking bones during basic sequences. “The swords and spears were dulled, but still metal,” he explained, noting that a missed mark often led to injury.

The set became a “war zone,” with chaos normalized as cast members adapted to frequent accidents. Butler’s own injuries lingered, exacerbated by a subsequent car crash scene in *Butterfly on a Wheel* where Pierce Brosnan accidentally slammed him into a wall, worsening his neck and hip issues.

The infamous “300 workout,” designed by mountain climber Mark Twight, was another brutal element. Lasting four months, it culminated in a one-time test of 300 reps—including pull-ups, deadlifts, and box jumps—with only 17 of the team completing it.

Twight’s unpredictable routines kept actors in survival mode, transforming them into warriors but leaving Butler feeling sick after sessions. “It was the hardest thing I’ve ever done,” he admitted, though it forged a lion-like confidence on screen.

Ironically, while real injuries plagued the set, the film’s gore was mostly digital, using just two gallons of fake blood. Butler’s revelations shatter the myth of a glamorous production, highlighting the raw danger behind the Spartan epic. Despite the pain, *300* launched him into stardom, though he resisted being typecast, taking on diverse roles in *P.S.

I Love You* ($156 million) and *The Ugly Truth* ($200 million). His career has since amassed $3.2 billion worldwide, spanning action, romance, and animation like *How to Train Your Dragon*.

Off-screen, Butler’s life mirrors his on-set battles—surviving addiction, near-death accidents, and personal loss, including the 2018 Woolsey Fire that destroyed his Malibu home. His story with *300* isn’t just about cinematic triumph; it’s a testament to enduring real-world chaos for art.