10 Video Game Movies That Made ONE Huge Mistake
4. Casting Jake Gyllenhaal - Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time
As video game movies go, Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time isn't too bad, though it is irrevocably stained somewhat by having Jake Gyllenhaal play the lead role - to be clear, a Persian prince called Dastan.
That's nothing against Gyllenhaal's acting chops, but even back in the less-enlightened times of 2010, many bristled against the whitewashing of a role clearly better suited to a Middle Eastern actor.
It goes without saying that Hollywood would approach casting such a role very differently today, but when rewatching the film, it's tough not to wince slightly at how poorly Gyllenhaal's casting in particular has aged.
The actor seems to agree himself, saying in a 2019 interview that the role "wasn't right" for him. It's a shame, as the bones of a fun swashbuckling romp were there, even if Prince of Persia was hardly perfect outside of its central casting mishap.