Jake Gyllenhaal To Play Prince Of Persia

See, it’s totally NOT Orlando Bloom. Instead, as previously rumored, Jake Gyllenhaal has landed the lead role in The Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time for director Mike Newell, Walt Disney Pictures and Jerry Bruckheimer. Remember how we told you to expect both leads to be announced at the same time? Well, starring opposite Gyllenhaal will be … Gemma Arterton. Yes, that random up-and-comer who recently nabbed a role in the new James Bond flick, Quantum of Solace.

In the film, Gyllenhaal will play Dastan, a young Prince who teams with an exotic princess named Tamina (Arterton) on a mission to stop “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,” so says The Hollywood Reporter. The film, of course, is based on the popular video game (which I’ve personally never played) and, if successful, might turn into a brand new explosive franchise for Disney. Can Disney ultimately find a way to succeed with a video game adaptation where others have failed? And what do you think about Gyllenhaal playing the prince? Arterton as the princess? Good casting choices or completely off course?

Sound off you Persia fanboys (and girls)!