Just when you think Hollywood is getting hip to how game movies should be you're pushed down the well of reality. According to the Hollywood Reporter Jake Gyllenhaal, of Donne Darko fame, has been cast as the lead in Jerry Bruckheimer's produced adaptation of Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time. To be fair, that's not what we're scratching our heads at.In the announcement Gyllenhaal is said to be cast as Dastan, for the first time naming the Prince since he was imagined by Jordan Mechner in 1989. Joining Gyllenhaal is Gemma Arterton who plays Dastan's love interest--the beautiful Princess Tamina. Yeah, they changed that name too. We don't know why the changes are needed, but we're sure to find out soon.
In the film Dastan and Tamina join forces to prevent an evil nobleman from stealing the Sands of Time, which, remainning true to the game it's based on, allows its wielder to reverse the flow of time.
Directed by Mike Newell, no relation to Gabe, Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time is set to begin filming in Morocco this July.
[via Big Download]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
5-21-2008 @ 10:45AM
Britton said...
I'm. So. Excited.
I love me some Gyllenhaal.
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5-21-2008 @ 10:53AM
Britton said...
Mike Newell did Goblet of Fire and that was a hearty Harry Potter film so this could be fairly good. Although, seeing someone like Guillermo del Toro or Alfonso Cuarón (or together a la Pan's Labyrinth?) direct this one might have been brilliant were they not already working on their own projects. Either way, I'll be seeing this for sure!
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5-21-2008 @ 11:09AM
mikey said...
no!
go ahead and ruin the movie why dont you.
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5-21-2008 @ 12:25PM
scaught said...
God forbid Hollywood cast an actual persian in the role.
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5-21-2008 @ 12:51PM
James said...
I know, right!! They should also cast an actual Prince in the role. In fact, they should do away with "actors" altogether and just have "actuals" playing the roles. They can call it "Reality Cinema".
5-21-2008 @ 2:40PM
James said...
Funny you should mention it:
http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1377352/
Last I heard, this guy -- an actual Prince of the "Persian royal family", though I'm not sure what that means as there is obviously no longer any Persia -- was a strong candidate for the post. http://news.filefront.com/actual-prince-of-persia-favored-for-lead-in-prince-of-persia-movie/
I guess they just felt they needed the star power. If you ask me, Jake is a bit too... uh, pale.
5-21-2008 @ 2:43PM
James said...
Briefly: A, the first follow-up here was a different James (in case that's confusing). B, to spell out my objection to the other James's objection, it's like if they cast a white actor to play a black plantation worker. The problem isn't that they didn't hire a plantation worker, it's that they're going to be putting a white guy in blackface. Similarly, they're casting a really, really obviously non-Persian guy to play a Persian. Whole different ball game.
5-21-2008 @ 1:22PM
Teabag said...
Err...i am not sure about Jake? I mean....i can't see him as the Prince...Oh well, it's your money.
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5-21-2008 @ 2:51PM
mikey said...
hi, me again, im going to finish james' post...
If you ask me, Jake is a bit too... uh, FEMININE to play the prince.
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5-21-2008 @ 4:03PM
bill said...
Two white are playing Persians... This is like Cleopatra 1963 starring Elizabeth Taylor.
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5-21-2008 @ 6:45PM
Chester said...
So true!!!
5-21-2008 @ 6:24PM
Harbir said...
its DonnIe darko w/ an I
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5-21-2008 @ 8:38PM
Haohmaru said...
Israeli actor Oded Fehr, also known as Ardeth Bey from The Mummy, would've made a good Prince of Persia.
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5-21-2008 @ 8:41PM
Haohmaru said...
I have to agree with Scaught and the second James.
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