Jake Gyllenhaal, in my Prince of Persia? (It’s more likely than you think.)
So, this may be old news to some of you, but it’s new to me. Apparrently, Disney has chosen “Brokeback Mountain” co-star Jake Gyllenhaal to play the role of the prince in “Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time”. This is probably the first time you have read words “Brokeback Mountain” and Disney in the same sentence, so if you’re confused I will understand.
From CountingDown.com:
“Borys Kit reports; “Jake Gyllenhaal and Gemma Arterton will star in “Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time,” Disney and Jerry Bruckheimer Films’ adaptation of Ubisoft’s popular video game. Mike Newell is directing.
In the fantasy adventure, Gyllenhaal will play Dastan, a young prince in 6th century Persia who must join forces with Tamina (Arterton), a feisty and exotic princess, to prevent a villainous nobleman from possessing the Sands of Time, a gift from the gods that can reverse time and allow its possessor to rule the world.”
Okay, so Jerry Bruckheimer is producing. But still, isn’t it just a little hard to believe that some pastey white boy is the Prince of Persia?? I mean, for awhile there Naveen Andrews was rumored to play the role. I understand that he’s almost 40 and isn’t as youthful as the traditional PoP, but aren’t there any other Middle-Eastern or Indian actors that could have filled the role? Perhaps Disney just prefers white actors. I mean, if you’ve ever seen High School Musical, or any of the Disney Channel shows, you know that even the black kids are white.
Anyway, I digress. It’s a Bruckheimer flick, which means it’ll probably get tons of marketing, toys and online flash games before the movie even comes out. And everyone will end up seeing it. If we’re lucky, this video game movie won’t be cursed like all others. Oh yeah, look out for Gemma Arterton to appear in the next Bond film, “Quantum of Solace”.
“Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time” is scheduled for release in the summer 2009.
