Any worries that this news may be another example of stereotypical casting of Baddie Brits now seems irrelevant because it is becoming apparent that Jake Gyllenhaal may well be one of the few non-Brits in this production - both in front of and behind the camera.
And showing yet again what a small world this world of Hollywood and film making is, the other casting news today is that the wonderful actor Alfred Molina will be Prince Dastan's mentor Sheik Amar. Alfred Molina has most recently been working on An Education alongside Peter Sarsgaard, and he also starred in POP director Mike Newell's Enchanted April, in which Alfred was superb. Here is a revisit to a set visit with Alfred Molina on An Education, in which Alfred plays father to the heroine Jenny.
With actors of such calibre, and with such excitement surrounding the leading actress and future Bond Girl, Gemma Arterton, Prince of Persia is not a blockbuster to be taken lightly. Not least because of its Prince.
Intriguingly, there is also speculation that this film, inspired as it was by a game, may itself be turned into a game. So, not only will you enjoy watching Jake on the big screen, you may also get to play at being the Prince, as Jake, with perhaps a narrative by Jake. Get your consoles at the ready.
So next summer, all may be Persian in the theatres, so does this mean that Persian styles will also be hitting the high street shops? Maybe so. Last night was the Council of Fashion Designers of America awards (CFDAs) and it was noted that 'the most bizarre trend of the night were the billowy trousers that Naomi Campbell and Maggie Gyllenhaal sported. Normally it wouldn't be that noteworthy if someone slipped up on the red carpet, but since both Naomi and Maggie are usually a bit ahead of the couture curve, I worry that they're just giving us a taste of what's to come. Is this where fashion is heading? Will skinny jeans be kicked aside for roomy pants worthy of a Genie in a bottle?' Hmmm, you have to wonder... Maggie appeared onstage alongside Victoria Beckham and Eva Mendes and any doubt about Maggie's outfit was as nothing compared to the Posh look.
Includes pictures by totally360.com, Vogue, NY Mag, IHJ and links.
35 comments:
I was watching one of those quiz shows at noon today, and one of the questions was, "Al Molina was in which 1980s blockbuster movie?"
Strangely, a sequel to that movie is in the theaters right now. ;-)
Maybe next Halloween, Jake and Maggie can go to parties dressed as a Persian Prince and Princess. :-)
Hi Paul! I know the movie you mean - Indiana Jones. Alfred Molina has been round such a long time and in films of amazing calibre - Prick up your Ears is incredible. Maybe Maggie felt inspired :)
Wheee! What a great post - I'm ready for one hell of a ride from now up until PoP's release in Summer 2009. I know that WDW will keep us informed of every detail! I'm so happy that Alfred Molina and Sir Ben Kingsley will be joining Jake and Gemma in PoP.
I did see the latest Indiana Jones movie recently, and I was very impressed with it too - haven't seen an Indy movie in awhile so it was nice catching up with the Indy gang, Steven Spielberg, Harrison Ford, Karen Allen, John Hurt and meeting the great newcomer Shia LeBoeuf. WDW, I'll bet you enjoyed it as well. Love hearing about what Maggie's wearing, and seeing TDK coming up next! :)
Hey Bertie! So glad you liked the post! I am so excited by POP - I loved the game when it came out and I'm so ready to see Jake in it. The more I hear about it, the better it gets and it's going to be great working up to it here together :D
Yep, you're right - I loved the Indiana Jones movie - very glad to see Karen Allen back in it. And now wehave TDK coming up for this summer and POP for the next. Fabulous :D I may never leave the theatre next summer...
Don't forget "Brothers" and "Nailed." It would be terrible if they came and went without Jake's fans noticing. :-(
(Not that that's likely to happen ;-))
Paul, that is absolutely NOT going to happen! How could we not notice a Jake film coming out! For even suggesting such a thing, you're on washing up duty this evening ;D
Not a huge Molina fan myself, but it's great about Ben Kingsley - hopefully as the Vizier he won't be speaking in an English accent - we *are* nice and we get a bad rap!
Late congratulations to Get Real on her Gyllengaard sighting - this is why Manhattan is so great :)
Maggie's next to Posh in some of the pics and they look like two different species.
Hey Nouskie :D I have images in my head and in my ear of Jake as the Prince talking in an English accent as the Prince in the game does. I fear that Ben as the Evil Vizier will speak in some strange eastern fake accent! I don't think I can cope looking at pics of Maggie next to Posh - it's more than I can take :D
"Don't forget "Brothers" and "Nailed." It would be terrible if they came and went without Jake's fans noticing. :-("
I'm sure we are all looking forwad as much to PoP as to Brothers and Nailed. Don't worry! ;)
Maggie is looking happy, not too fond of her styling. Hmm!
Thanks for the new update! :)
Sandy
Hi Sandy :D Good to see you! I don't like Maggie's outfit, but I do like her hair and makeup.l
Paul, both Brothers and Nailed are politically serious and I applaud Jake for his commmitment to such films, but surely the bets are off as to how these films will display in our fast moving culture. Rendition really hit the nail on the head, even though it did not do well at box office.
As for me, "I want an action figure I can call my own, a doll that other fellas cannot steal, and those flirty flirty guys with their flirty flirty eyes, will have to find a dolly of their own. . . "
p.s.
love the bloomers!
Hey Pia - can I have one of those action figures too, please? Not so sure about the bloomers...
It's very possible that movie audiences are going to pay far more attention to POP than to Nailed and Brothers, that's how these things go unfortunately (although one will allow Jake to make the other), but Jake's fans will undoubtedly be there for all of his films.
Personally, I can't wait to see Brothers.
Fantastic news about Molina and Sir Ben joining the cast!!! Both actors have been outstanding imo and it will be wonderful to see Jake working with them! Now all you UKers have to give us some reports when they film in London and you have Jake roaming your great city. :)
Thanks to everyone who has commented on my GyllenGaard sighting. :) Was a wonderful thing and Maggie's hair was straighter but still had the highlights you see in the CFDA pics. Wonder if the pants Maggie and Naomi Campbell are wearing will become popular? Not sure about the look myself...
Definitely count me in for Brothers and Nailed! Would not miss either movie.
I plan to be there for Brothers, Nailed, PoP, and whatever else Jake does. He stole my heart in BBM, and seeing how talented he was in it, I'll see all his films. I haven't been disappointed yet. It's the same for Heath.
I think a well-done big budget film can be as much art as the smaller independent films. PoP, with its distributor, producer, director, and acting talent, has all of the potential to be beautiful art, as well as bringing them in in droves at the theaters. I hope they take it all the way and make it as good as it can be. I'm thrilled that Jake is involved in it. I don't want to miss a minute of the promotion.
Well I think the guys in PoP will be wearing bloomers - from the artwork Ive seen - we will all go OUT OF OUR MINDS . . .
Hi there Get Real! It's going to be an incredible experience, and not just for us. It's always good to think of Jake working with such people.
I'm still smiling about your GyllenGaard experience :D
Hey Bertie - I love what you say. A big budget movie can be just as good and this has so much going for it. Not least because it's from a videogame that has so much imagination behind it. The art and the vision are stunning. I don't want to miss a minute either :)
Hi Pia! I can't get enough of this artwork. I want to see Jake in these landscapes and in that character.
Night all - thanks for a really fun evening. My head is back in the Persian clouds....
BTW, Anouska, what pics are Maggie and Posh next to each other? Am curious to see those but only see pics of Maggie by herself.
Nevermind, I saw the Maggie/Posh pics at Getty Images. OMG, lol, no offense to any fans of hers, but Posh is just so fake and plastic. Posing very hard next to Maggie who is just standing there. Strange indeed, lol. ;)
Glad that the Evil Vizier has finally a face!
I've seen more than one movie featuring Ben Kingsley (who could ever forget Gandhi? I got to watch it with my school class when I was, what, 12?) but my favourite one will always be the quiet Sterne in Spielberg's Schindler's List. Unforgettable.
And I like Alfred Molina too! :)
I saw him in Chocolat, Frida and in less conventional roles as in Coffe and Cigarettes di Jim Jarmush...
So who is gonna be in this movie, Dastan's Counselor, or his father figure maybe?
Can't wait!
Have a great day WDW and everyone!
Good morning everyone! And it's finally stopped raining and the sun's come out :D
Hi Get Real - If Posh would just smile and loosen up a bit... Maggie just looks (and is) so classy. Have a good day over there in NYC!
Morning Xenia :D Schindler's List is my favourite role for Kingsley too, with no doubt at all. Oh, I did like Molina in Frida. It is going to be great!
Have a wonderful day everyone :)
(waves at WDW!) I'm glad such fine acting talent has been added, along with Jake's this is sounding like a very classy production!!!
I've been very much engrossed in our priamary elections and very pleased with the outcome!
Thank you, WDW, for the Empire cover. Hope all is well with you!
Hi Bobbyanna! *Waves back* All is well here - hope it is with you too xx
I'm not minding the pants, but I'm not feeling the top so much. Maybe Maggie is going for a Persian Princess look???
Certainly looks that way, Bobbyanna :D
Ohhh, I love Sir Ben - I think one of my favorites roles of his, besides Ghandi and Schindler's List, was Massoud Behrani in House of Sand and Fog, I loved everyone in that film. I like what Maggie's wearing, I like the material and colors, it's interesting. :)
Hey WDW, afternoon all :-) PoP is certainly getting more and more promising,the quality of the artwork we've seen is now boosted by some genuine British A-listers joining the cast! Both Alfred Molina and Sir Ben Kingsley are fine actors and, like Jake,they must have been persuaded as to the promise of this project and the quality of the script.
I'd heard that Ben Kingsley insists on being called Sir Ben on set too,WDW. If that's true I hope Jake's disarming personality soon bursts that particular bubble of pomposity...or maybe I should say "Pops" it ;-)
Doesn't Maggie look gorgeous at those fashion awards?! I'm not totally sold on the harem pants or the shoes,but I love the dress and she is the epitome of natural feminine beauty next to the pouting posturings of Posh,who looks positively plastic and utterly alien. Victoria B is reputed to have a lively, self-depracating sense of humour. If she'd show that more often and soften her features with a smile,I think she'd be doing herself a big favour!
Maggie does look very feminine and pretty, doesn't she? I love the sheerness and softness, and the colors of the dress material.
Hi Nadine and Bertie :D Just finishing off work here and can't comment properly, but just had to say I'm loving this talk of fabrics! Back soon :)
^^^^^ should read "self-deprecating".
A swift and safe journey home,WDW xx
That blouse does wonders for Maggie. It's about the best thing I've ever seen her wear.
I was teasing about "Nailed" and Brothers", WDW, but as I'm on washing up duty every night anyway, just show me where the sink is, and have plenty of dishtowels on hand. ;-)
But maybe there's a serious element to my gest. Computer games that involve warriors chasing and killing their opponents never interested me, not even a little bit. "Prince of Persia" is going to be just another fantasy for me. Granted, I loved "Lord of the Rings," but it had beautiful poetry and wonderfully funny hobbits who were a lot like me (or vice versa), so I could feel like of the story. How do I relate to a Roman-period prince up against viziers and such? :-(
"Brothers" and "Nailed" are going to be just plain fun. I look forward to the cute little girl scouts in their blue outfits, and Jake smirking at that funeral. :-)
Hi Paul! I do think Maggie's top is striking and really luxuriant. I much prefer it to the trousers.
You'll recognise the sink as it's full of dishes...
I can see what you mean about the difficulty of relating to a 6th-century Persian Prince straight from a video game. For me, I associate Prince Dastan with some wonderful memories from childhood of both reading and watching tales of Arabian Nights - and the romanticism and exoticism of this world just captivated me and I can't wait to see Jake breath new life into this escapist dream. It speaks in a different way from other roles of Jakes. To be honest, it probably speaks much more my language than Nailed does. But I'm prepared to be pleasanly surprised by Nailed. I know I'll be enchanted by POP. So who knows? I think we just have to leave our expectations open.
I know what you mean about Arabian Nights, WDW. My sister was enthralled by them, even going so far as to name her two dogs "Aladdin" [Aladdin number 1 had an argument with a truck and lost it, so she then got Aladdin number 2]. When it came time to get my own dog, I stayed with the theme, and called mine "Genie."
I love the Rimsky-Korsakov "Scheherezade" suites, especially the ones when Sindbad is sailing on the ocean, and the music sounds like waves. We were once a seafaring family, and that strikes deep chords within us.
What I am hoping for is that the artistic sensibilities of people in that part of the world will come into "Prince of Persia." Westerners who have visited families in the Middle East have come back awed by the richness of colors and materials in the homes. The Middle East is a wonderful place to live.... seriously. The Mosques are gorgeous, the oriental rugs are often wonderful. There are highly decorative vases and storage boxes.
Hi Paul! I love the idea of a dog called genie :D (Poor Aladdin 1... :()
I've lived in the Middle East myself, digging in the deserts, and it is a wonderful world for the senses and that's a big reason why I'm into POP. After months in the Old City of Jerusalem and the deserts of Israel and Egypt, I'm ready to see Jake in that world, with those scents, colours and myths.
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