Gyllenhaal crowned as Disney’s Prince of Persia
Jake Gyllenhaal will star in Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time, Disney’s big-budget adaptation of the enormously popular video-game series.
Mike Newell (Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire) is directing the Jerry Bruckheimer production, which Disney hopes will become a Pirates of the Caribbean-like fantasy/action franchise. The movie is set for release next summer.
Gemma Arterton (Quantum of Solace) has been cast as the female lead.
Gyllenhaal will play Dastan, a sixth-century Persian prince who joins with the feisty princess Tamina (Arterton) to stop a villainous noble from possessing the Sands of Time, which can reverse time.
Production starts in July in Morocco and London. The script is by Doug Miro and Carlo Bernard, Boaz Yakin, and the game’s creator Jordan Mechner.
The Ticker
• There can be only … two? Iron Man co-writers Art Marcum and Matt Holloway have signed on to pen a remake of the 1986 cult hit Highlander for Summit Entertainment. RoboCop, Red Dawn and now Highlander? I’m being dragged, kicking and screaming, back to my childhood! [The Hollywood Reporter]
• Christian Bale reportedly has signed on to play John Connor in three Terminator sequels. He’s already shooting the first of those three films, Terminator Salvation: The Future Begins. [BBC News]
• Steven Spielberg and Peter Jackson may co-direct the planned third Tintin movie. [Stuff]
• Joss Whedon reveals the lunchtime origins of his new TV series, Dollhouse. [Sci Fi Wire]
• Why did Speed Racer crash and burn at the box office? [First Showing]
• Sam Raimi’s syndicated TV show Wizard’s First Rule, based on Terry Goodkind’s The Sword of Truth fantasy series, casts its lead actors. They’re two guys nobody’s ever heard of. [The Hollywood Reporter]
May 21st, 2008 at 9:14 am
Oh god, enough with Highlander already!
May 21st, 2008 at 9:39 am
I suppose it’s too much to ask Disney to cast someone Persian in a film called Prince of Persia?
Also, they might be taking a big risk. The possibility of war with Iran exists (I am not seeking to start a debate on foreign policy, I only note how things are), and the appetite for a film set in Persia could be adversely affected in such a case.
May 21st, 2008 at 11:34 am
I’m surprised anyone thought Speed Race was going to do anything but flop.
May 21st, 2008 at 1:23 pm
Agreed about Speed Racer, Erech. I thought it might go over really well with eight year-old boys, but that was it. It may not have even captured them. I’d guess that new animated SR series won’t last long either.
So THREE Terminator sequels? Hm. I think Bale’s awesome (I’d love to see hime team with Nolan for as many Batman movies as they want to make), but I question the need for three more Terminator flicks.
Is Nolan still going to be helming that big-screen remake of The Prisoner? I love that old show, so I’m leery about anyone trying to remake it, but if someone’s going to Nolan would be one of my top choices. I’m also thinking Bale would make an excellent No. 6, should the film be a “go.”