Video game to movie adaptations tend not to fare too well. But, in the case of Mike Newell's 2009 adaptation of Ubisoft's Prince of Persia: Sands of Time, I'm willing to make an exception.
Ever since feasting my eyes on the original Prince of Persia back on the old Commodore Amiga, I've enjoyed the franchise and throughout its numerous reincarnations, I've always believed it to have big-screen potential.
Fortunately, I'm not the only one and Walt Disney's Prince of Persia: Sands of Time will hit UK cinema screens late in 2009 with Jake Gyllenhaal playing the role of prince Dastan.
He'll be joined by forthcoming Bond girl, Gemma Arterton, who'll feature as Dastan's exotic princess, Tamina. Together, the pair will be out to prevent an evil nobleman from getting his hands on the Sands of Time, a gift from the Gods that can reverse time.
Director, Mike Newell, and producer, Jerry Bruckheimer, are joined by Doug Miro, Carlo Bernard, Jordan Mechner and Boaz Yakin, who together pencilled the script. The story is said relate to the Ubisoft videogame, but takes an approach of its own.
Walt Disney Pictures will no doubt be banking on the movie's success, and will be hoping to turn Prince of Persia into an action-adventure franchise capable of replicating the success of Pirates of the Caribbean.
Are you excited by the Prince of Persia movie, and do you believe Jake Gyllenhaal to be the right choice? Share your thoughts in the HEXUS forums.