Make believe - Morocco, NYC, Hollywood

Although I am on holiday, today, in the name of doing research for Jake Gyllenhaal's Prince of Persia Disney Experience (sure to have a ride of its own one day), I did a tour of Disney World's own World Showcase at EPCOT and headed straight for Morocco. The photos yesterday from the PoP set at Pinewood were in my mind, and the authenticity of the Disney Morocco was verified for good when I spotted the camel wearing a fez. I half expected to see the Prince and his brothers leading vast cavalries through the narrow streets and casbahs. Just as well they didn't, or they would have been in Italy or France. No Persia at EPCOT, I'm afraid, so Morocco stood in for it.



Other countries experienced today include Mexico, with the pesky ibises, the American Adventure (where I was presented with a 'Malibu veggiburger') and the United Kingdom's Rose and Crown pub. I also managed to make time to go into space, land on Mars and soar over California (I didn't spot Jake). My heart was warmed indeed to see so many people wearing I Love WDW sweatshirts, even though they featured a mouse and not Jake...



Uncertainty also surrounds which continent Jake is on at the moment, and that will continue until we get to see the first fresh photos of him out and about - will he need a bobble hat, scarf and mittens? Or will a t-shirt and a light sweater do? Little clues suggest perhaps that filming is done. The Daily Mail is reporting, in its inimitable fashion, that the Princess of Persia, Gemma Arterton, has moved on from her handsome riding instructor Eduardo, who was also a stuntman on PoP, and he is now home in Spain and not in Pinewood. (Reading this article, I discover that the first name of Gemma's character in Quantum of Solace, Miss Fields, was Strawberry.)



PoP has an abundance of handsome men - another is Icelandic actor Gisli Orn Gardarsson, whom, we learn from The Times, is shortly to take to the boards of the RSC in Stratford. It seems Gisli impressed PoP's Mike Newell during his trampolining and bungeeing turn as Romeo. In PoP Gisli plays an assassin - no doubt a fearsome opponent for Jake's Prince. His theatre credentials are impressive - one hopes that appearing in PoP will give Gisli the means and opportunities to fund and develop further unusual interpretations of classic characters. One hopes the same for Jake.


The North East of the US is suffering from some cold chills at the moment, but that can't get in the way of Christmas (or birthday present) shopping. Three generations of Gyllenladies have been seen out in NYC - Maggie, Ramona and Naomi. You can see some pictures here of Ramona - who looks the spitting image of her mother. Maggie looks amazing here.


I must thank Stephanie at IHJ for posting a scan of the new triple feature DVD cover, which I mentioned a few days ago. She knows I love this picture and I'm very pleased to see it look so good and so big when clicked on.


And finally

Almost completely off topic (not that that usually stops me), I wanted to post a picture of Cate Blanchett receiving her star in Hollywood this week, with directors Stephen Spielberg and David Fincher by her side. I hope that one of these days we will see David and Ang Lee stand on either side of another talented young actor as he leaves his mark on the streets of Hollywood.


Includes pictures from IHJ, WDW and links.