The director will turn his attention to the big-screen adaptation of the best-selling videogame once Transformers wraps.

IESB has an exclusive report that Michael Bay will direct Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time, Disney Studios’ big-screen adaptation of the best-selling Ubisoft videogame.

Bay will reportedly turn his attention to the Jerry Bruckheimer-produced Prince of Persia once he’s wrapped up this summer’s Transformers movie.

Prince of Persia, which is being hailed as Disney’s next blockbuster franchise in the vein of Pirates of the Caribbean, is set in 9th-century medieval Persia and tells the story of how a young adventurous prince who uncovers a dangerous artifact in a remote mountain kingdom and with the help of an enemy princess, must stop a despot from unleashing a sandstorm that could destroy all mankind.

The original creator of the game, Jordan Mechner, has said that “Rather than do a straight beat-for-beat adaptation of the new videogame, we’re taking some cool elements from the game and using them to craft a new story – much as ‘Pirates’ [of the Caribbean] did with the theme park ride,” according to Variety.

The Sands of Time videogame is the first of a trilogy. Released in 2003, it was followed by Warrior Within in 2004 and The Two Thrones in 2005.

Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time is scheduled for release in theaters Summer 2009.