After a few rumors (Go Orlando, go, go!) and some likelihoods, it has been confirmed by Hollywood Insider that Jake Gyllenhaal has officially signed on to play the title role of Dastan in Prince of Persia: Sands of Time. It was rumored last month that the Zodiac star had been offered the role (see Is Jake Gyllenhaal A ‘Prince of Persia’?).
Also joining Gyllenhaal in Persia will be Gemma Arterton as Tamina; Arterton recently signed on to be a new Bond Girl as well.
The Prince of Persia storyline will revolve around Dastan (naturally) and a princess (Tamina, I assume) — who is a enemy of his kingdom — teaming up to stop an evil ruler from setting off a devastating and deadly sandstorm. In doing this, they are tricked into unleashing the Sands of Time, which destroys an entire kingdom and turns its people into demons. To fix this mistake, and ensure it doesn’t happen again, Dastan and Tamina must get the Sands of Time back into the hourglass from which they came.
The movie is a Jerry Bruckheimer production, directed by Mike Newell (Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire) and written by Doug Miro, Carlo Bernard (The Great Raid), Jordan Mechner (creator of Prince of Persia) and Boaz Yakin (The Rookie).
David Zandi the real Prince of Persia should’ve been hired. Disney and Jerry really screwed up this great franchise.
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