Thanks to sites like Latino Review, who broke the rumour back on 8 April, whispers have been circulating for weeks on the magical Internets that Jake Gyllenhaal was the front-runner to play the titular Prince Of Persia in the blockbuster that Mike Newell will direct for Jerry Bruckheimer and Disney.

But despite recent word that the studio was looking for an actor of actual Persian descent, Gyllenhaal has proved to be the man. Current Quantum Of Solace Bond girl Gemma Arterton has scooped another big role by landing the female lead.
 
Prince Of Persia: The Sands Of Time takes its rough plot from the video game, and sees Gyllenhaal’s Prince Dastan teaming up with the exotic Tamina (Arterton) to help keep the mystical and powerful Sands of Time out of the hands a bad guy.

Newell stars shooting Morocco this July (pending an actors’ strike) and Variety is bringing its flip flops.