For Jake Gyllenhaal, playing Prince Dastan in Jerry Bruckheimer's epic Prince of Persia: Sands of Time, due May 28, 2010, was a chance to get into some serious action. (Paparazzi photos of Gyllenhaal on-set have appeared previously, but this is the first official shot of him in character.) "I'm tired of taking myself so seriously," says the actor, who found himself sword-fighting, climbing walls, and jumping off of buildings as part of the prince's quest to find an enchanted dagger and turn back time. "It's nice when a stuntman turns to you and is like, 'Actors don't normally do this.'"
For a sweet, glossy copy of the photo and other exclusive first looks, be sure to pick up this week's issue of Entertainment Weekly, on newstands now.
More 'Prince of Persia':
Jake Gyllenhaal starring in 'Prince of Persia'
Who's looking forward to the 'Prince of Persia' movie?
Talking with 'Prince of Persia' creator Jordan Mechner
Videogame Review: 'Prince of Persia' (2009)
Comments (1-30) of 85 Add your comment
I’m sure the movie is gonna suck, but I’m eager to see a buffed up Jake. Hopefully there are some shirtless scenes!
Ah yes, Jake Gyllenhaal, the well-known Persian/Iranian actor. Oh, wait, says here his family is Swedish and Jewish. Well that’s ok, I guess the Jews were originally Semitic (like, hundreds of years ago) so…Uh, seriously? Can we stop white-washing these movies? I’m SURE there are Iranian or even Middle-Eastern actors who could have played this role. It’s as bad as The Last Airbender.
Name ONE Iranian actor.
thought so.
PS, Persia stopped existing in the 1940’s, the people are now Iranian not Persian.
Shohreh Aghdashloo
While female, that’s one Iranian actor.
Sara – the point being, no Iranian or Middle Eastern actor can headline a major summer movie because there aren’t any with the box office draw. Further, don’t hold your breath for one (even if they are American-born); I doubt that the 9-11 crowd/religious nuts/the neocons will be forgiving that anytime this century. They’re still stuck on things that happened centuries ago…
it really isnt the first look…..
http://www.iwatchstuff.com/2009/03/prince_of_persia_patiently_wai.php
I know this movie is going to make a ton of money. But the picture they are showing looks a little too Hollywood studio clean, kind of like a Walt Disney World set. It’s not gritty or dirty enough. I’m still dissappointed in the Jake Gyllenhaal choice, YUCK this picture has not changed my mind.
it really isnt the first look…..
http://www.iwatchstuff.com/2009/03/prince_of_persia_patiently_wai.php
While it’s nice to see Jake’s muscles, he’s really not the guy I’d picture in this genre. And while I agree in general with Sara, Tarc is right. What Middle-Eastern actor can open a movie? Altho I do think Oded Fehr of the Mummy franchise is particularly yummy, if you have to go with a name, would anyone recognize his?
Jake G? since when is he an action actor? I would have picked Eric Bana in a hearbeat. no question. not impressed here.
Eric Bana – I second that! Jake still looks like the 10yr old from “City Slickers.”
Mis. Cast.
I agree with Sara.
And, they’re not there because the box office won’t give them a chance to become a box office draw. You can’t be told it’s impossible without being given a chance first.
We all know that the movie industry is heavily white washed, with the occassional African American, Hispanic or Asian actor thrown in here and there from time to time as the token ethnic character. It’s nothing more than the nature of the industry.
Hopefully this movie doesn’t suck though.
Jake could pull this off. I never thought of Matt Damon or Bruce Willis as action stars until I saw the Bourne Trilogy and the Die Hard movies.
i think it’s just stupid to pick an american actor to play a middle eastern character it’s just gonna be all about cliche about the middle east, just like in his last movie rendition. and no confusion i love jake gyllenhaal, he was awesome on brokeback mountain and zodiac, i’m just sick and tired about these blockbuster who just caricature even more the middle east culture (sorry for my english)
oh here we go again with the pissing and moaning about racist Hollywood.
Bottom line kiddies – Hollywood is a business first. They’ll go for a name to open up a summer blockbuster before any other consideration is made. Sheesh. What a bunch of cry-babies.
When is the movie for Oregon Trail due out?
Seriously… could they have picked a lamer premise for a movie?
Wow…they really know how to screw up Video Game movies eh.
Look at Doom! Except atleast The Rock was an action star…
http://tvdonewright.com/
No, middle eastern actor available? Do they not as yet realize why some of these movies dont make as much money anymore? It’s the Global age. we all know how folks from most areas look like. I never bother to go see a movie that has a British or American actor casted as a middle eastern character. Even if they are “Jewish” they do not look like Jews in the middle east, the same way blacks of “Jewish” descent don’t look “Jewish”.
it really isnt the first look…..
http://www.iwatchstuff.com/2009/03/prince_of_persia_patiently_wai.php
This is one of my favorite video game series. Picking Gyllenhall for the role was idiotic. I don’t really care if they had picked someone of middle eastern descent to play the Prince or not. They just shouldn’t have picked him. I have no intention of seeing this movie.
This might actually be good, could we have the first ever movie based on a video game that isn’t total garbage? Could be.
This is one of my favorite video game series. Picking Gyllenhall for the role was idiotic. I don’t really care if they had picked someone of middle eastern descent to play the Prince or not. They just shouldn’t have picked him. I have no intention of seeing this movie.
I always thought he had a “Funny” Look to him BUT… must say he’s LOOKIN’ GOOD! Must of had to “grow” into his looks… xoxo Jamie
I always thought he had a “Funny” look to him BUT he must of have grown into his looks Cuz.. He’s LOOKIN” PRETTY GOOD”!!! xoxo Jamie
The only potential good I see coming from this movie is perhaps they’ll simultaneously release a new Prince of Persia game.
Mis. Cast.
Um, Jake Gyllenhaal Persian? What the what?
Well, he looks delicious, but he doesn’t look Persian. Hmm.
Jake Gyllenhaal? What gawd-awful casting! This article is a joke, yes?
They should have cast Naveen Andrews from LOST instead of Jake Gyllenhaal. Obviously not as big of a box office draw, but he would still look better in the role.
This is going to suck, just like every other video game turned into a movie. What, they couldn’t find any arabic actors? Even those kids from Slumdog Millionaire would do in a pinch. What about Naveen Andrews, a half Indian Englishman playing an Iraqi on Lost?
What kind of brain disease has loosed itself upon our youth? Suddenly some silly action movie based on a silly video game has to have an Iranian actor in it because the game takes place in Persia – how loopy can you get?
Don’t any of you robots know what’s going on in Iran right now? Maybe it’s not so easy to get Iranian actors, never mind Iranian actors who can dominate an American movie.
The Last Airbender has not only an Iranian actor in a major role in an American film, but probably the first South Asian leading man in one… and it’s supposed to be a racist undertaking. The clowns who are obsessed by this pathetic nonsense are more racist than any movie studio… they are guilty mostly of wanting to get a return on their money.