I’m a big fan of the PRINCE OF PERSIA video games. They’re a little one dimensional, but they’re damn fun. When I heard the news that there was going to be a movie, I was stoked. Sure, video game-to-film adaptations rarely work out (well they never do, except for Street Fighter…). Mind you there’s a lot of hope out there for HITMAN, but we’ll see. PRINCE OF PERSIA has got a pretty in depth story to it, especially with it having several different games under the franchise. So there’s a lot they can do with it.
There was news a while back that Michael Bay was set to direct it. It doesn’t matter what your opinion is on that matter, because thanks to TRANSFORMERS 2 being on the fast track, Bay is out. News rolling in from Variety today is that Mike Newell is the next man in line to helm PRINCE OF PERSIA: THE SANDS OF TIME.
Newell’s a very scattered director. He goes from FOUR WEDDINGS AND A FUNERAL to DONNIE BRASCO to MONA LISA SMILE to HARRY POTTER AND THE GOBLET OF FIRE. The latter of the few is the one that caught my eye. As you can see the man has a very broad variety when it comes to his resume. HARRY POTTER AND THE GOBLET OF FIRE wasn’t bad, a fair amount of action and excitement involved, so Newell taking the helm of PRINCE OF PERSIA is ok in my book.
Mind you, nothing is final yet. He just met with executives and negotiations are expected to start soon. The film is based off the first game for the PS2, PRINCE OF PERSIA: THE SANDS OF TIME. The synopsis from the official site of the game is: In medieval Persia, Earth’s mightiest and most mysterious kingdom, a king and his son defeat the powerful Maharajah, looting his palace of priceless treasure, including an extravagant hourglass and a mysterious dagger. What the Prince does not realize is that these two objects can turn their possessor into an immortal god, and give him control over time itself. Tricked by a dying Vizier bent on harnessing this terrible magic for himself, the Prince releases the Sands of Time, destorying a kingdom and turning its populace into ferocious demons. Now, it is up to the young Prince of Persia to call upon every resource and ounce of courage he possesses to save his kingdom and redeem his fatal mistake.
The game was written by Jeffrey Nachmanoff (THE DAY AFTER TOMORROW) and the game’s creator Jordan Mechner. This one sounds like it’s got all kinds of potential, and I’m definately looking forward to it.
I wonder who’ll play Farah?
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