Tuesday, May 20, 2008

Prince Charming



So the inside sources were right: Jake Gyllenhaal is the new Prince Of Persia.

Jake Gyllenhaal and Gemma Arterton will star in "Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time," Walt Disney Pictures 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 sixth 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.

Doug Miro & Carlo Bernard, Jordan Mechner and Boaz Yakin wrote the script, which is based on the many games created by Jordan Mechner.

Bruckheimer is producing, while Mike Stenson, Chad Oman and Patrick McCormick are exec producing.

Production is set to start in July. ...


For those of you, like me, who are unfamiliar with the story, here's a the plot summary from IMDb:

Set in medieval Persia, the story of an adventurous prince who teams up with a rival princess to stop an angry ruler from unleashing a sandstorm that could destroy the world. Which is why after the prince was tricked by a dying Vizier to unleash the Sands of Time that turns out to destroy a kingdom and transforms its populace into ferocious demons. In his effort to save his own kingdom and redeem his fatal mistake, it's up to the prince and the princess to return the sands to the hourglass by using the Dagger of Time, which also gives him a limited control over the flow of time.

And here is a video rendering.

And some images of the Prince practicing parkour:





So July in Morocco, huh? Shirtless Jake as a dashing Prince? Sounds hot!

(PoP images courtesy of FilmJunk, G4G.)

45 comments:

FL said...

YAY! God! I am so relieved this is finally out there!

Bette said...

YES! This is such exciting news.

FL said...

Love this bit from EW.com

It may just be the worst kept secret in Hollywood but Disney has finally confirmed that Jake Gyllenhaal will be their next big-screen hero in Jerry Bruckheimer's Prince of Persia: Sands of Time

Jake Gyllenhaal starting in Prince of Persia

Anonymous said...

Yessss!!!!! This is great news, I can't wait. So the IMDB insider and brothers spy were right!

Production starts Juky instead of June, that will give him some tim in between from filming Nailed if that ever gets finished, thanks for the news!

FL said...

Ooops made a typo above. Too busy to delete post and repost.

"starting" should be "starring" of course.

UltraViolet said...

Variety chimes in finally.

It's nice to have the official confirmation, but once we heard FL's friend's info, I knew it was a done deal.

So get the house ready, Agent K! London Road Trip!

Anonymous said...

This is wonderful news! I was hoping he would land a franchise type movie and he has.

The worst kept secret in HW, LOL!!!

Anonymous said...

I am very excited by this. Jake could definitely do an action/adventure role. I hope the script has some humor in it.

If it succeeds, and has sequels, he could be financially set up for life.


Two sheer speculations. Discuss and decide.:)

1. He wants to make some serious money so he can minimize his financial inequality with Reese.
2. He thought Deacon and Ava would like to see him in the role. ( Pleasing his kids was part of the reason Jonny Depp did Pirates.)

Bette said...

Lawgoddess I think that could be a real possibility. I honestly do. And if my thoughts are correct Reese will take the kids probably to visit him in London a time or two so they'll get to see how the movie was made.

UltraViolet said...

Oh, discussion points, I like it, Barbara!

I think it's a combo thing - we know Jake has always wanted to play a superhero. Since the idiots that run Hollywood never gave him a chance, I think he sees this as a way to do it.

The serious money never hurts. And I'm sure he loves the idea that Reese's kids can see it. And his own, someday.

Let's hope that the woman in the movie isn't just a damsel in distress, also.

Anonymous said...

For me - not being a superhero movie fan - this prince looks much more interesting...especially if the script is good and the Prince is not just a "popcorn" character. I have also faith in Mike Newell.

We all have learned during the last days how difficult it can be making an independent, serious (or wierd...) film. When Jake is a "household" name backed up with a successful franchise it will be easier getting the money for the small indies...

UltraViolet said...

I agree, Gabbana. If successful, this will give Jake the opportunity to star in smaller roles and help in the production of some movies that would otherwise not be made.

Anonymous said...

Lawgoddess,

I think it's both 1 and 2. Men want to be at par financially with their girlfriends/wives. It's just the way it is.

I agree this film will set him up financially for life. If early reports are true, he'll get $10 million to make the first one. That's guaranteed money now. If the first film succeeds, he'll get $15 to $20 million for EACH sequel. They'll film both sequels together. That means, if this is a hit, he's guaranteed another $30 to $40 million.

UltraViolet said...

I saw this earlier but didn't have time to post. I think we all knew Jake wasn't going to do it, not just because he'll be busy as a Prince, but it's still nice to hear it for sure.

Having made perhaps too many thoughtful political-minded films that haven't made money, John Cusack is taking his agent's advice and plunging into Roland Emmerich̢۪s 2012, an apocalyptic thriller for Columbia Pictures. Redbelt star Chiwetel ("Chewy") Ejiofor is also planning to join the big-budget epic, whose title refers to the end days of human civilization as foretold by the ancient Mayan calendar, blah blah.

sass said...

Afternoon,
This is good news all round. Now if this post will just not get lost.
xoxoxo
sass

Anonymous said...

Yes, I have seen this before, UV, I like John Cusack very much and I can understand his decision...to quote Robert Downey "Sometimes you want to be in a movie that is been seen by more than five people"...

I forgot to mention:

Prince of Persia/Disney/Jerry Bruckheimer/blockbuster also means BIG PREMIERES - in LA, London but perhaps also in Berlin, Germany....I think I will start saving some money.....

Anonymous said...

OT I just found this amusing.

WITHERSPOON & GYLLENHAAL WERE DESTINED TO BE LOVERS


http://www.contactmusic.com/news.nsf/article/witherspoon%20gyllenhaal%20were%20destined%20to%20be%20lovers_1069194

Bette said...

I was just coming over to post that. lmao That's so funny! Yet kind of cute at the same time.

Anonymous said...

I'm delighted everything is officially confirmed, but even more delighted that our own superior (cough!) sources confirmed this news Firstest! :) We have some great people on this blog!!!

I'd like to read more into Reese's clear schedule, too, but I think I read somewhere that she tries to keep her schedule light for summer with the kids. I have a feeling where ever Jake is, she will be right there. Morocco, London, whatever!


I really don't want in anyway to distract from this celebration. But I feel very bad about Sen. Ted Kennedy's news. Weekend before Thanksgiving,1983, Sen. Kennedy was travelling across the U.S. to focus attention on homelessness.

I was a young, lowly civil servant at the time, and I had to help out with the public hearings in my city. He wrote me a personal note of thanks, I will always treasure.

Anonymous said...

Actually, I thought this might be partly the motiviation: ;)

2. He thought Deacon and Ava would like to see him in the role.

Anonymous said...

It's great that it's been officially confirmed, but the sources here, FL and brothers spy already confirmed it here, I love this blog.

bobbyanna, I feel sad about Sen. Kennedy too, my thoughts annd prayers are with him and his family.

Anonymous said...

I remember when Jake said the TDAT was the kind of movie he enjoyed seeing, these pure entertainments, summer blockbusters, etc. And the public enjoyed them. So maybe he just wanted to do that again in a different way.

But I also think he is motivated by both the reasons you cited, LG. Then there's also knowing that there are franchises happening all around him.

Batman, Spiderman, POTC, and recently, Christian Bale was announced to play John Connor in two more Terminators! The Ocean's 11 franchise could be on the list too, for that matter.

His sister and Heath did Batman, a lot of people he knows are involved with franchises. Even Robert Downey Jr.!It was almost as if he was among the last holdouts.

I know with Bruckheimer behind it, and Disney, it will be done well and look great. And he will definitely be shirtless. And that is a very important plotpoint, I would think.

Anonymous said...

I think this role is probably one of the more physically demanding franchise heros.

Anonymous said...

Bobbyanna, the news about Ted Kennedy has made me very sad, too. What a lovely memento to have from meeting him. I'm hoping for allthese world-class hospitals around here to do some magic.

Monica said...

Nooooo
NOOOOO
NOOOOOOOO
NOOOOOOOOOO
NOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

Anonymous said...

So glad PoP is finally "official", and I really hope this will be a blockbuster that will be a nice addition of Jake's resume. But those illustrations really have me concerned......okay, I'm superficial, but that hair style is not good!

I'm not familiar with the PoP game, but I'm comforted that many of my fellow Babblers are so excited and optimistic about this project for Jake. And Mike Newell has done some fine work, so that is a definite plus!

Lawgoddess, I like both of your speculations. I can imagine Jake wanting to do something that Ava and Deacon would get a kick out of.

OT, the Ted Kennedy news was such a terrible shock..... so sad.

Monica said...

That the hair it is not equal to the character of the game!

Anonymous said...

Boy, our sources here were spot on, what great news! My nephews will be thrilled , the are major gamers and love POP.

I'm in shock over the news about Ted Kennedy, so sad.

FL said...

I'm actually looking forward to how wardrobe, makeup and hair will transform Jake into Dastan. And whatever they do to his hair - cut it, sew in extensions, flat iron it - it's just hair and I doubt Jake will keep his Dastan hair after filming is over. Then again, I loved his Bubble Boy hair. Hee.

I'm also looking forward to his chest being as smooth as a baby's bum. Like getting his head shaved on the Jarhead DVD extras, I really REALLY hope we get to see the initial chest waxing on the PoP DVD extras! Is that wrong?

On another note, I understand a very strongly worded email went out today to all Mass. General Hospital employees about privacy, medical records, and VIP patients. Methinks they don't want another Cedars Sinai on their hands. Best wishes to the senior Senator. He's in good hands for sure.

Anonymous said...

Yessss! suvee, I could HUG you!!!!
The hair is impossible. Ugh! That ripped physique, that gorgeous body, those beautiful, intense baby blues, ... and then that hair. It would be like somebody putting a kilt on Michaelangelo's David, or drawing a moustache on Mona Lisa! Jake is a masterpiece!

FL, I'm sorry, but his hair matters to me. I know it's absolutely a huge part of the persona when he develops the character but, as much as I adored him in Moonlight Mile, I hated that hair!

The only way I got thru Bubbleboy was to pretend it wasn't "really" Jake(!). I love Holden, Jack Twist, Swoff, Harold Dobbs, Robert Greysmith and Douglas Freeman gives me palpitations, so I am not an unreasonable person.

But I gotta say,I want the POP to look like sex on a stick, not Farrah Fawcett!

Monica said...

It is not the kind of film that I admire.
But he made success.

Anonymous said...

"It would be like somebody putting a kilt on Michaelangelo's David, or drawing a moustache on Mona Lisa!"

Exactly, bobbyanna! The hair is crucial..... that incredible face absolutely must be framed properly! :)

FL said...

But I gotta say,I want the POP to look like sex on a stick, not Farrah Fawcett!

LOL okay, okay. But I'm thinking Dastan isn't going to have that frosted feathered look. Call it a hunch. ;-)

I found some great fan art just now of "the Prince" because I guess he never had a name until now.

Pencil sketch of Prince

Color rendering of above sketch

Another color rendering of the Prince

FL said...

Oh and what I neglected to mention before....SOUL PATCH!!!! Hee.

Anonymous said...

I felt the same way in the beggining when I heard about this movie monica, so I know where you are coming from.

I'm totally clueless when it comes to video games, but the more I hear about it the more i'm starting to warm up to the idea. It's a great opportunity for Jake and I trust that he made the right choice.

Anonymous said...

So the PoP news is official! Don't know anything about the game and folks are giving him a hard time because he is not Persian but I hope this to be really great for Jake. As others mentioned Maggie, Heath, RDJ and others are doing these action movies and having a lot of success and acting praise. I hope that happens for Jake. Really enjoying the discussion here. :)

Heartbreaking news about Ted Kennedy. keeping him in thoughts and prayers.

Anonymous said...

OT: Jessica Alba and Cash Warren were married very quietly on Monday. No fanfare, just a quiet civil ceremony. A publicist confirmed it when asked.

Anonymous said...

Bobbyanna, what a lovely story about the note Sen. Kennedy wrote to you. That is a thing to treasure.

Anonymous said...

I love the sketches and artwork, especially the last one, very nicely done. :)

UltraViolet said...

It's amazing how much work people put into these things. I love it.

Oh, and Gabbana, good call on the premieres. I hadn't thought of that! Whenever I see these worldwide jaunts (IRonman, SPiederman, etc.), I wish Jake would get to do one again. So that is a definite plus!

Anonymous said...

We've been so distracted by the wonderful news about POP, is there any news about Nailed? Is Jake in Columbia or not? Won't Morocco be very hot in the summer?
Maybe they will start filming in London first? Just do some exteriors in Morocco? Is there a chance this might be "semi" animated? (300?) Or will it be like Pirates of the Carribbean?
Either way it will be visually exciting!

Anonymous said...

Loved the sketches.

And LOL about chest waxing and soul patches. Do we have our priorities straight or what?

Although I have to say, I hate soul patches. I could see him cleanshaven in the role, with the right hair.

I don't think it has to be exact to the video game character, if the costumes etc. are right.

He could rock the flowing pants and bare chest!

UltraViolet said...

I agree, LG. No need to slavishly follow every detail. Especially if there is no sex in the video game!

And Monica, hugs to you! It will be okay. I don't love the idea of the movie, either. But it will provide lots of opportunities to see Jake! And to see lots of Jake :)

Anonymous said...

"No need to slavishly follow every detail. Especially if there is no sex in the video game!"

Amen!

UltraViolet said...

I forgot to say that Contact Music link was hilarious! And we know they are 100% reliable, so it must be true!

New post time!