The Day After Yesterday - Prince of Persia 'This sucker is a monster'

It's The Day After Yesterday and that can mean only one thing - a look back at the glorious gifts ET gave us in the shape of a running, walking, talking, flirting, joking, riding, fighting, giggling Jake Gyllenhaal, aka God's Gift the Prince of Persia. Here's a refresher.



We were given The Tongue - understated and blatant.



We got hair - real, glued, extended, wigged?


We got a glimpse of rather fetchingly designed attire, well-fitted in some places and more billowing in others - plus bum. Obviously, I skimmed over this section of the feature and didn't pause it at all.


Armour. I like the armour. And the arm straps.


A ring set off Jake's delicate and long fingers perfectly and he used it eloquently to reinforce his comments.


We saw the Prince interacting (ie fending off with swords and daggers, or abducting/rescuing on horseback) with Feisty Gemma.


Jake knows well how we appreciate how he has made scarf wearing an artform. The Prince proves the point by wearing a whole shop's worth. You can never go wrong with layers. And there was enough to lend one to Gemma.


A Jake interview is not a Jake interview without giggling and flirtation.


Chest.


A couple of the movie websites that were invited to the Prince of Persia set the other week, and are still sworn to silence on the experience, have been interested like us in the ET feature and their reactions are extremely encouraging. Cinematical had this to say: 'Cinematical was lucky enough to visit the set of Prince of Persia earlier this month, and while we can't really go into details, we have no problem placing a bet now that Persia will go down as the most successful (in terms of quality and box office numbers) video game adaptation of all time. This sucker is a monster, and you have my word that it looks damn good. Much more coming soon..'


They also say 'But don't let Jake's regular old American accent fool you -- the dude has taken on a whole new accent for Persia, but you'll have to wait a little while longer before we're allowed to share the type of accent it is.' Interestingly, Cinematical suggest that filming will be completed at Pinewood in a couple of weeks.


SlashFilm said: 'it looks like ET was on set for a night scene where Gemma Arterton’s character Princess Tamina is trying to stab Prince Dastan, played by Jake Gyllenhaal. I had the fortunate opportunity to visit the set a couple days before ET (from the looks of it), and while I’m not allowed to talk about anything I saw (just yet), I will say this — the film has the potential to do for video games what Jerry Bruckheimer did for that little theme park ride turned film — Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl.'


Gemma has also been speaking a little more about Prince of Persia while publicising Quantum of Solace. Gemma spoke of the 20-week shoot to M16 Declassified: 'I can’t believe all of this is happening – it’s mad stuff! (laughs). I’ve been in Madrid learning to horse ride for the last few weeks and then back in London for some training. It’s an action romance – a bit like Indiana Jones meets Gladiator! It’s set in the 6th century so there are lots of Sinbad style costumes, which I love. And it has a great cast, with Jake and Ben Kingsley and Alfred Molina and a fantastic director, Mike Newell, so I think it’s going to be great. I’m very excited. I’m the only girl in the whole thing. I’m the hot totty in it – which freaks me out! (laughs) I can’t believe I’m going to be the girl who has to get the bums on seats. But since Bond it’s been crazy.'

I must say that I don't think Gemma is the only hot totty in the Prince of Persia...


Gemma also spoke to tribute.ca: 'It is a huge, massive movie, which is exciting and scary at the same time. We are shooting half of it in Morocco and half of it at Pinewood Studios in London. Jake Gyllenhaal and I are the leads, and Sir Ben Kingsley and Alfred Molina. It is just amazing cast and a brilliant directors and actors and script. I think it is really going to be special.'


Scorpion Update

With all the excitement generated by the ET feature on Prince of Persia, one would be forgiven for forgetting the peril that has faced the cast in recent days due to an outbreak of multi-legged stinging scorpions, which we talked about here on Wednesday. We have had more details. According to the Daily Mail: a 'scorpion was seen walking down a corridor at the studio.' As a result, 'Studio staff are now taking 'standard operating procedures for tropical locations', a Pinewood spokesman said. A studio insider speaking to the Daily Mail said yesterday filming was stopped after the scorpion was discovered - and there were fears more may have bred in the Buckinghamshire studio. 'It's a bit of a worry as the trucks came back from Morocco three weeks ago, so the worst case scenario is that it hatched here,' an insider said.'


Although one theory is that the scorpions hitched a lift on the lorries carrying the props back from Morocco, could this be a case of dastardly sabotage? 'A spokesman for Prince of Persia, Michael Singer said that the scorpion may have come from another production which he declined to name. 'The creature was found in a common area of the studio, not on our set or in any of our store rooms. 'There is another film based here which also shot in Morocco. The scorpion's origin is beyond my knowledge. It's had absolutely no effect on filming.'

This article also encourages me to avoid the Isle of Sheppey at all costs...


Monsters and Critics inform us that 'Signs have been posted around the studio.. warning workers to beware of the poisonous arachnids. The signs warn: "At least two scorpions have been spotted in recent days. If you see one do not try your own pest control but inform security." The captured creatures are now being held in quarantine at Heathrow airport's Animal Reception Centre.' We are assured they will be repatriated (or dropped out of a window as a plane flies over North Africa).


While some reports have proclaimed Pinewood is suffering a plague of scorpions, the sensible Guardian has reported 'Two have been found - one live, one dead - and pest controllers have done their thing, but staff are wary. The emperor scorpion, the prime suspect and one of the largest such creatures in the world, has a pinch sufficient to snap a pencil and a sting capable of inflicting severe pain. Managers called for vigilance.'

The Prince could have a fight on his hands... or ankles.


Pictures from IHJ.