Jake Gyllenhaal is the PRINCE OF PERSIA!!
Zodiac star to lead the big budget Walt Disney film with Gemma Arterton also on board as the love interest.
The Hollywood Reporter say that Jake Gyllenhaal will play the lead role in the anticipated movie adaptation of the popular video game Prince of Persia. Jake's a decent actor and all but I'm afraid this is horrible, horrible casting! First of all, why couldn't they have gone and found a Persian or failing that, a Persian looking actor to play the Prince of frikkin' Persia? And secondly - possibly most importantly. Gyllenhaal has no charisma. I swear he doesn't. Boring as shit. What I would have gone for is an Orlando Bloom fresh faced type. I'm not saying Orlando Bloom himself but I'm saying a young looking guy who actually looks physically like an old 60's style action adventure hero. Some one you can actually get behind. Gyllenhaal is fine at playing neurotic and ordinary but he's never been likeable to me. He's not an actor to easily get behind and in an adventure film like this, I think he might be out of his range quite honestly. Sometimes actors should stay away from blockbusters and this one reminds me a lot of the Edward Norton casting in The Incredible Hulk.
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.Jerry Bruckheimer is producing the film which at this stage is set for a release next June where it is expected to fill the gap left behind by the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise. Loved the video game... always thought it had unlimited potential as a film series but often you live and die by your lead casting. I'm hoping I'm wrong but Jake doesn't seem a good fit for this. Production begins in July.