Bay/Bruckheimer - Prince of Persia
 

I never played the video game, but I remember seeing the trailer and thinking that it would make a great movie. Looks like it will get made.

http://iesb.net/index.php?option=com...2301&Itemid=99

IESB Exclusive: Prince of Persia Finds A Director!
Written by Robert Sanchez
Friday, 13 April 2007
Jerry Bruckheimer has been busy as of late with his Pirates franchise and his countless hit TV shows but still he has been working hard to get other film franchises off the ground. The IESB can exclusively report that his upcoming film, Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time, has found a director and a release date!

So I am sure you are wondering by now who Jerry has tapped to direct the adaptation of the best selling video game, right?

Bruckheimer has teamed up with him in the past to bring you Bad Boys I and II, The Rock, Pearl Harbor and Armageddon. Yes, that’s right, Michael Bay is directing Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time for a Summer ’09 release.

The IESB was able to confirm with Disney Studios that they are hopeful that Michael Bay will indeed direct the picture right after he is done with this Summer’s blockbuster, Transformers.

You might remember a couple of years ago when we confirmed that Bay was behind Transformers just as he was finishing The Island. So now, just as he is finishing up Transformers, we are announcing that he will in fact be behind Bruckheimer’s Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time.

This feature film adaptation is “based on the video game, which follows an adventurous prince who teams up with a rival princess to stop an angry ruler from unleashing a sandstorm that could destroy the world.”

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."

Mechner wrote the first draft of the screenplay for the feature film with subsequent drafts by Jeffrey Nachmanoff.

Originally developed and published Ubisoft, Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time is a third person action adventure video game that received widespread critical acclaim.

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

It appears that gone are days of Uwe Boll and crappy video game adaptations (well almost, there is still In the Name of the King: A Dungeon Siege Tale to deal with unfortunately). There is almost a Renaissance feeling in the air with video game adaptations garnering more respect as well as better casting. Hitman is a perfect example with Timothy Olyphant cast in the lead role as Agent 47. Let’s hope things continue in this upward trend!

Another link:
http://www.comingsoon.net/news/movienews.php?id=19888

I'm still waiting for a movie based on Bad Dudes.

Awesome news. I love Prince of Persia and if anyone can deliver dynamite action, it's Michael Bay....

While I'm apprehensive about Michael Bay being able to pull off the beauty that is Prince of Persia: Sands of Time (one of my favorite video games to date), here's hopin' it will turn out well...

Very good news!
Then maybe after this is made, they can turn their attention to another Jordan Mechner video game that could make a great movie: The Last Express.

This isn't going to star Ben Affleck, is it?

Just wondering why you'd be apprehensive to Bay making a great looking Prince of Persia? If there's one thing he does real well, it'd be his cinematography.

They better hire those french guys who climb and jump off buildings for sport to do the stunts for this movie.

Sorry, I think I gave off the wrong impression. I have no doubt that POP will LOOK good. But I'm worried about how he'd be able to pull off the actual movie itself. Every time I think of Michael Bay, I think of Armageddon, Pearl Harbor, etc...and it makes me sad.

I was hoping this would be animated.

I'm sure we'll get some stupid "wall running" CGI work, the lead character will be changed to a jive-talking "prince of the street" with a sassy pair of talking swords (One named Per, the other named Sia) and his pants will have flames painted on them.

Gives the project more hope than I originally anticipated.

I hope Farah is not as annoying in the movie as she was in the game...

that sounds like it could be a Devil May Cry movie but with a pair of pistols instead of swords (or maybe they are a pair of swords and they call it "taking creative liberties").

Actually, now that I think about it, DMC3 DID have two talking swords in it.

I'm effin' brilliant.

As a connoisseur of the classics, I'm more than a little dismayed that the Bay/Bruckheimer adaptation of "Pong" continues to be delayed. Will this never come to the silver screen?

Heh. Hey, as long as Boll ain't touching Prince of Persia, I'm satisfied.

Anyone having thoughts on who'd make a good Prince? I'll throw in my vote:

The only thing that separates Boll from Bay, are the budgets they work with.

and the Prince will be played by...
 

Jake Gyllenhaal! directed by Mike Newell.

seriously, the prince? i don't see it. they said it is all confirmed and production starts soon.

from G4's "Attack of the Show".

also posted at RT...http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/...6373960ca71a37

I never thought Matt Damon could kick ass, but he managed to do it. So who knows, maybe Jake can run on walls and use a sword :shrug: :p

Well my excitement for this just tanked... besides just not liking him as an actor.... for the Prince of Persia? Would it have killed them to cast someone other than a generic white guy?

It was called Aladdin.

those are some of the best games ever... loved all three of 'em...

i would guess there will be one singular 'wall run', sort of a 'wink wink you fans get it' type of thing... and some lightweight plot...

i'm expecting another 'Hitman'... which i never saw, but i loved those games too...

Jake Gyllenhaal? Really? That's pretty piss poor casting. But then I guess I shouldn't be suprised given the claims that Gemma Arterton was cast as Farah. :shrug: Who'se gonna be the Vizier? Hugo Weaving?

Given his uninspired Jarhead performance the last time he visited the middle east, I can't fathom seeing him taking up the mantle of a princely aerobatic badass.

What a shitty day for movie news. First Highlander, now this.

Disney pushes 'Persia' to 2010
Studio wants to allow time for post-production
By PAMELA MCCLINTOCK

Disney and producer Jerry Bruckheimer have pushed back the release of fantasy actioner "Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time" by nearly a year, from June 19, 2009, to Memorial Day weekend 2010.
Officially, Disney said it wants to allow plenty of time for post-production considering that the tentpole will require extensive special effects to create its fantasy world and setpieces.

In addition, however, the move takes "Prince of Persia" out of the path of "Transformers 2," which DreamWorks and Paramount open on June 26, 2009.

Filmmaker Mike Newell began lensing the pic last week in Morocco and will remain there until the production moves to London.

Decision to delay the release by a year caught some by surprise, although the calendar could continue to see major reshufflings because of the ongoing labor strife in Hollywood. Studios may want to allow for extra cushion in case of any production delays.

Bruckheimer and Disney don’t want to take any chances with "Prince of Persia," which they are hoping turns into a mega-franchise, along the lines of "Pirates of the Caribbean," that can feed the entire Disney empire, from sequels to potential TV or direct-to-DVD spinoffs, merchandise and Disney theme-park attractions.

Pic, based on Ubisoft’s bestselling vidgame, toplines Jake Gyllenhaal, Gemma Arterton, Ben Kingsley and Alfred Molina.

In its new date, "Prince of Persia" opens a week after the release of "Shrek Goes Fourth."

Disney isn’t relinquishing the June 19-21, 2009, weekend completely.

In a twin move, it is pushing up the release of Sandra Bullock-Ryan Reynolds romantic comedy "The Proposal" from September 2009 to June 19, 2009. Counterprogramming in the heart of summer with female-skewing titles has become a potential goldmine, with Disney looking to continue that trend.

Disney also has dated "Jonas Brothers 3-D Concert Movie" for Feb. 27, 2009.