Movie adaptations of videogames have a long and inglorious history. Super Mario Bros., anyone? When the high-point of the genre is the really rather shonky Rock and Karl Urban starring DOOM and untalented goons like Uwe Boll are prolific exponents, you know you’re in trouble.

Thank goodness for Jerry Bruckheimer. Not only has the über-producer given us delightful action-comedy fluff like The Rock, Bad Boys and Con Air; but now he’s turned his attention to videogame adapations. We’ve known for some time that Jerry, in collaboration once again with Disney, was looking for another big franchise to replicate the epic success of Pirates Of The Caribbean. We’ve also known for some time that Ubisoft’s Prince of Persia series (particularly the ground-breaking Sands Of Time) was the chosen vessel for another Bruckbuster. But now we’ve got the beginnings of a fine cast too.

Everyone welcome the new Prince Dastan, aka Jake Gyllenhaal. Yes, Jake Gyllenhaal; indie-darling and respected actorly type. Super, says we. Wonderful casting. If anyone can pull off the necessary transition from spoiled and slightly whiney Princeling to brooding, melancholy warrior, it’s Gyllenhaal. He’s certainly a much safer pair of hands than the other mooted candidate - Orlando “two expressions” Bloom.

Of course, the Prince isn’t alone in his fight, and Gemma Arterton (St. Trinians, Quantum of Solace and RocknRolla) has also been signed to play “a feisty and exotic princess” who’ll fight alongside Jake’s emo-warrior and, as is the way of these things, probably start out hating him but gradually grow to love him while wearing as little as possible. Excellent.

There’s even a helf-decent director aboard: Mike Newell (Donnie Brasco, Pushing Tin, Harry Potter and the Goblet Of Fire and the in-progress Elfstones of Shannara adaptation). Hugely encouraging and a gargantuan step-up from the likes of Boll.

With the script apparently adhering closely to the plot of the game (which should lead to some spectacular time-stopping and reversing special effects), the huge budget that Disney and The Bruck will undoubtedly hurl at this and the already above-average cast, is this the film to make videogame-to-movie adaptation a real money-spinner?

We reckon so. One thing’s for certain, the industry will be watching this one closely. With Bioshock also heading for the big screen, if the Prince does well you can expect a slew of big-budget movies-of-the-game to rush into your multiplex?

So, what do you all think? Can you smell what The Bruck is cooking? Will this (finally) lead to some quality videogame-based movies? Or is it all a leap too far?

Jim

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