It’s official: Jake Gyllenhaal and relative newcomer Gemma Arterton will star in Walt Disney Pictures and Jerry Bruckheimer Films' adaptation of Ubisoft’s Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time. Mike Newell (Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire) will direct the big-screen adventure, which is set to begin production in July.
In the film, Gyllenhaal will play the titular Prince Dastan, who must team up with “feisty” princess Tamina (Arterton) to stop a ruthless nobleman from getting hold of the Sands of Time. Just like the game, these mystical sands can reverse time and grant its owner the power to rule the world! Wow, sounds dramatic!
Before you all start freaking out in the comments, let’s think positively for a second: Jake Gyllenhaal is an awesome actor (see Zodiac and Brokeback Mountain), Mike Newell is a very competent director, Jerry Bruckheimer (although not well liked in the fanboy community) knows how to produce pretty bombastic action scenes, and Gemma Arterton, well, she is one fine lookin’ lady (and costars in the new James Bond movie later this year). Let’s all give this movie the benefit of the doubt and just hope for the best, okay?
Now, with that being said, what do you all think? Remember: Positive Polly, not Negative Nelly! And, yes, I will punch myself in the face for just typing that.
[Via The Hollywood Reporter]
Contest:
4:38 PM on 05.20.2008
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Everyone, stopping reading my stupid post and click here! :) :) :)
Hopefully this will turn out great, knowing how much they've put effort into a big budgeted project. *especially with JM's talent behind the script itself.
They could've done a lot lot worse.
I understand what they're doing here btu I REALLY wish they would have just picked an unknown martial arts star because, let's face it, the "acting" is not what's going to make or break these movies.
@moggle
At least Toby physically fit his role and could do the whole socially awkward thing. Gyllenhal is white.
we need a facepalm pic here
Yeah. Most people don't realize this, but 99.99% of people who post in videogame forums are also Hollywood casting agents. I mean, they must be, because they know better than the people making the movie.
im sure they could have found an attractive girl that was actually middle eastern ;)
:)
"Prince Dastan, lost in a shipwreck when he was just a baby and raised by Persians, teams up with Tamina, also lost in a shipwreck and raised by Persians, to battle the forces of evil! Coming Summer 2009!" :)
White folks to play persians, why not?
I hear up next is a movie about our founding forefathers. I believe Jet Li will be playing George Washington, and Kelly Hu will be Martha. It will be awesome.
HA HA HA HA! :)
Aladdin was actually voiced by a white guy. :)
http://youtube.com/watch?v=6UdnL-mEDjI
With big name actor/director/bruckheimer trifecta, there'll be a fast-food promotional tie-in del thing for sure.
Hopefully the movie is good. In fact, it is guaranteed to exceed my expectations. :)
God, someone is being a Negative Nelly! :)
Besides, I think Gyllenhaal could do it. And by it, I mean a cowboy.
Jake Gyllenhaal is a great actor and I'm sure he'll do his best, but why not a Persian guy?
As you can see, I'm still bitter about that British ninny being cast as the originally Asian main character in '21'.
I don't see why everyone is hating on Jerry B, Pirates of the Carribean was a pretty decent movie, and that was based on a freakin ride. Jake G is a very good actor but most importantly he is well known. Disney/the Investors would have had a pretty heavy hand in deciding to get someone non-persion but proven bankable rather than some guy that looks exactly like the videogame prince. There are always going to be better options so quit your bitching and be happy that they are making more of the franchise that will do nothing but benefit an excellent gaming series.
You might hate the movie because it doesn't match the videogame, but millions more that have never played the videogame are potentitally now going to be aware that it exists.
Videogames that become movies rarely hold the same level of charm and appeal that the original source material held previously. Unless great detail is paid to the actions that ware undertaken and the "feel" of the game is brought over just as well in a solely visual sense, then great - but it's NEVER happened before. It's always about some director who says, "Nah, I think this would be better!"
And then you realize that Ryu is a fucking arms dealer.
Silent Hill, wasn't that bad and Hitman was shit but then you had unproven director/writing teams making them coupled with probably pretty low budgets compared to Pirates of the Caribean.
My other point is that it will do nothing to HURT the videogame series you know and may love. Streetfighter the movie was shit, but it didn't stop people playing the videogame. And i honestly believe that if anything it will provide more awarenes of the source material. Even if it's just some schmoe watching the making of on E!. It will be at least acknowledged in the media that it was based on a videogame. If the movie is great (and again i understand your skeptism) it may legitimize videogames as a story telling medium (and as a pie in the sky dream make people take story in videogames a little more seriously)
We're talking about gamers here. There's not way you can't expect some sort of negativity and hate towards something they haven't yet experienced or seen.
:D
I always give them a chance, Chad.
At least Uwe Boll isn't attached to direct...
Without the interactive narration and the heartbreaking ending, I don't know if it will work. I'll still go and watch it though.
disney is never going to cast some obscure sword-fighting persian prince in a movie thats based on an obscure (to the general public) videogame.
anyway, this has the potential to be a non sucking game adaption :)
go jake! u stud u! ^_<
ps. gosh, that girl is dime by the way! why have i never seen her before???