"Prince of Persia" Preview, Jordan Mechner interview

Tobey Maguire and Jake Gyllenhaal in "New York Times" (7th Annual Great Performers In Film).

Jerry Bruckheimer and Jake Gyllenhaal on set of "Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time" (2010).

"Walt Disney Pictures and Jerry Bruckheimer Films have blockbuster-style plans for the property... but can they pull it off? Well, here's what we know thus far.
Jake Gyllenhaal and Gemma Arterton in TOTAL FILM (UK)

Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time has a great looking cast, led by Jake Gyllenhaal, and a charismatic director with blockbuster chops in the form of Mike Newell (Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire).

Prince of Persia aims squarely for family fare territory, but with a heavy dose of peril. It'll be rated PG-13 -- the MPAA has cited "intense sequences of violence and action" in their rating -- so expect the level of those things to be on par with what you saw in Pirates. Is that a good thing? We think so.
Set in the mystical lands of Persia, the film follows a rogue prince named Dastan (Jake Gyllenhaal) who reluctantly joins forces with mysterious Princess Tamina (Gemma Arterton), and together they race against dark forces to safeguard an ancient dagger capable of releasing the Sands of Time -- a gift from the gods that can reverse time and allow its possessor to rule the world". Source: movies.ign.com

(Screen Play) Why do you think Sands of Time was suitable for adaption to film?
Not every successful video game should become a movie. Prince of Persia has a very relatable, human story, and it's built around a kind of physical action that translates really well to the screen. Plus there's a dagger that can turn back time. The world of the 1001 Nights is a really fascinating and evocative period, and it's been decades since anyone's done a big, state-of-the-art, live-action film set in that world. The hero is (also) a very sympathetic, relatable human character and he’s a bit of an underdog. There’s a love story, a beautiful princess, a scheming villain, and it’s really an old-fashioned adventure story.
New publicity sitll of Jake Gyllenhaal as Dastan in "Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time".

(Other journalist) Is Jake Gyllenhaal’s portrayal how you imaged Dastan would be in the real world?

I think Jake makes a great Prince Dastan - he looks a lot like the character in the Sands of Time video game, but also he has a lot of qualities that for me have always been part of who the Prince of Persia is. He’s a warrior - he does incredible stunts, and parkour, and fighting and so forth. But he also has a mischievous streak, an attitude, and I think a vulnerability that’s a part of the characters appeal". Source: blogs.smh.com.au