Disney and producer Jerry Bruckheimer has decided to move the release of fantasy action feature “Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time” from June 19th, 2009 next summer to one year later on May 28th, 2010.
This means that instead of going up against “Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen” next summer, the adaptation of the best selling video game will instead be appearing in theaters a week after Shrek Goes Fourth and a week before Thor.
Officially, Disney said it wants to allow plenty of time for post-production considering that the tentpole will require extensive special effects to create its fantasy world and setpieces.
Decision to delay the release by a year caught some by surprise, although the calendar could continue to see major reshufflings because of the ongoing labor strife in Hollywood. Studios may want to allow for extra cushion in case of any production delays.
“Prince of Persia” will star Jake Gyllenhaal, Gemma Arterton, Alfred Molina and Ben Kingsley. Mike Newell is leading direction, based on a screenplay by Doug Miro, Carlo Bernard, Jordan Mechner and Boaz Yakin.
In the fantasy adventure based on Ubisoft’s popular video game, Gyllenhaal will play Dastan, a young prince in sixth century Persia who must join forces with Tamina (Arterton), a feisty and exotic princess, to prevent a villainous nobleman from possessing the Sands of Time, a gift from the gods that can reverse time and allow its possessor to rule the world.
