
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, a fantasy adventure epic based on the video game franchise. Gyllenhaal will play Dastan, a young prince of 6th Century Persia, who pairs up with Tamina, a princess to be played by new Bond girl Gemma Arterton, to prevent a nobleman from acquiring the Sands of Time — a gift from the gods that can reverse time and allow its possessor to rule the world. Director Mike Newell (Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire) is scheduled to start filming in Morocco this July, pending an actors’ strike delay. Screenwriters on the project include Doug Miro and Carlo Bernard (The Great Raid), game creator Jordan Mechner, and Boaz Yakin (The Rookie).
May 20
2008
06:16 PM ET
Jake Gyllenhaal starring in 'Prince of Persia'
- Comments 101
- Add comment
Latest News
- 'Idol': MJ Santilli's live chat at 8 p.m. ET
- 'Game of Thrones' season 2: New photos!
- 'True Blood' alum to guest on 'Grimm'
- George Lucas talks 'Menace' 3-D
- Miley Cyrus exits 'Hotel Transylvania'
- 'Vampire Diaries': Inside EW's photo shoot
- 'Idol': Fox assures fans Symone Black OK
- 'Idol': Symone Black falls off stage: Clip
Most Commented
Top 5 Most Read
- Fox’s ‘House’ will end this season
- This Week’s Cover: ‘The Vampire Diaries’ stars talk about the red-hot Damon-Elena-Stefan triangle
- Watch ‘American Idol’ contestant Symone Black fall off the stage — VIDEO
- 'Vampire Diaries': Exclusive pics!
- Bill O’Reilly defends Ellen DeGeneres in One Million Moms, J.C. Penney controversy








Yessssss! Jake as the Prince of Persia is brilliant! I definitely see him as the handsome hero.
They couldn’t find a Middle Eastern(ish) actor to be the “prince of persia”? I’m tried of Hollywood doing stuff like that.
Yes!!
Jake is going to be amazing in the role!
Can’t wait to see him in the movie!
How can Jake Gyllenhaal pass as Persian?
Yeah, I like Jake and everything but I’m surprised they didn’t find someone who at least looked like they from the region.
I can think of 3 actors who can be in an action movie and at least look ethnic (one of them actually being Middle Eastern).
Persians are not Arab. They generally have pale skin with very dark hair and usually dark eyes.
WOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I dreamed all-time this moment, and finally it became true!!!! I’m so happy Jake will be our new “Prince of Persia”…. I can’t wait to watch the movie!!!! I Love U, Jake!!!! xXx
WOW!!!!!!!!! I dreamt about this moment all-time, and it has become true!!!! Dreams always come true!!!! I’m so happy that Jake will play as our new “Prince of Persia”…. I can’t wait to watch the movie!!!! I Love U Jake!!!!! xXx
There were no arab/persian/iranian actors who could play the part?
Persians are of the arab world. And even if people are all the sudden not wanting to consider persians part of the arab world, then they still could have got an persian actor for the part. Disney is so Racist.
I love Jake – love him! – but this is seriously offensive. Say you’re an excellent persian actor, and have spent 10 years playing “terrorist #3″ or “convenience store clerk” – now a real Persian part comes along and you’re usurped by effing Jake? How about actual Iranian actors ADRIAN PASDAR or CAS ANVAR? Or, even how about KAL PENN? All hot.
This story was broke by LatinoReview.
Not by EW.
If people here genuinely care about Hollywood news, I suggest visiting that website. They break news sooner and their writers have the integrity to credit their sources for all other news.
his guy is NOT the prince of persia
Go here to see the one who SHOULD be…his name is Hrithik Roshan and is the true prince…
http://www.housefull.in/wallpapers/hrithik-roshan/hrithik_roshan-1.jpg
And this should have been Tahmina…she looks way more like Farah:
http://www.parinda.com/files/storyimages/Bipasha_Basu_no_entry.jpg
Why is jewish zionist owned Hollywood so stupid and racist?
I just threw up a little in my mouth at the thought of Jake Gyllenhall playing a Persian Prince and Averton play a wannabe exotic princess….she doesn’t look exotic at ALL.
They could have hired the real Prince of Persia David Zandi and instead they give us Gyllenhaal and some white British chick, what a shame, shame on you Jerry and Disney, shame on you.
i wonder if anyone has pointed out that one of the main elements of prince of persia is the use of freerunning can this guy do anything i mean come on y throw a stunt double in for those parts have to pay him too while u can just find an actor that actually knows how to freerun and actually looks like the prince. i bet they’ll end up using so much wires all the stunts will look fake and that’ll be the end of a great franchise just like the new prince of persia will probably be