Movie - Prince of Persia starts shooting in Morocco

Icelandic actor Gísli Örn Gardarsson is currently in Morocco to play one of the main parts in the new Jerry Bruckheimer movie Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time. Shooting began yesterday. The film is based on the video game, which follows an adventurous prince who teams up with a rival princess to stop an angry ruler from unleashing a sandstorm that could destroy the world. He is expected to visit Fez during breaks in the shoot.

The film is being produced by powerhouse Disney producer Jerry Bruckheimer, directed by Mike Newell, written by both Jeffrey Nachmanoff (The Day After Tomorrow) and one of the game's creators, Jordan Mechner. In addition to shooting in Morocco, the film will be using the Pinewood Shepperton studios in England. Considering the line-up involved, we can expect a big budget and great production values set within a warmer version of The Day After Tomorrow combined with the action and pacing of Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire.

The movie is being shot in the city of Oukaimeden, at an altitude of almost 3,000 meters in the Atlas Mountains.

“It is much more exotic than I expected. I thought the city would be more Western,” Gardarsson said. “It is like from 1001 Nights; snakes, monkeys and desert storms.”

Gardarsson will be involved in filming until November and the final shots are scheduled for December 12. Other actors who play key roles in the movie include Jake Gyllenhaal, Ben Kingsley and Alfred Molina.

Gísli Örn Gardarsson

Gísli Örn Gardarsson was born in Iceland, but grew up in Oslo. He graduated from the Academy of Arts in Reykjavik in 2001. Gísli is a co-founder of Vesturport, a prestigious theatre company which has won a variety of nominations and awards for its productions throughout Europe. The company has bookings through 2008 all around the world. In his theatre career, Gísli has played Romeo in Romeo and Juliet at the Young Vic Theatre in London and in the West End. He played Walser (the male lead) in Knee High's critically acclaimed adaptation of Angela Carter's novel, Nights At The Circus, which was staged in London and elsewhere in England. He co-adapted, directed and played the part of Gregor Samsa in Kafka's Metamorphosis (original music composed by Nick Cave and Warren Ellis) at the Lyric Theatre in London's Hammersmith. On the big screen, Gísli was first cast in Ragnar Bragason and Dagur Kári's DRAMARAMA in 2001. Following his roles in CARAMELS in 2003 and BEOWULF & GRENDEL in 2005, he co-wrote, co-produced and starred in CHILDREN (playing the role of twins) in 2006. The film, which was directed by Ragnar Bragason, was screened at the San Sebastian Film Festival and Filmfest Hamburg, and Gísli received a "Best Actor" nomination for his performance.

SELECTED FILMS

PARENTS (FORELDRAR), 2007
Ragnar Bragason (Iceland)

CHILDREN (BÖRN), 2006
Ragnar Bragason (Iceland)

BEOWULF & GRENDEL, 2005
Sturla Gunnarsson (Canada/Iceland/UK)

CARAMELS (KARAMELLUMYNDIN), 2003
(short)
Gunnar B. Gudmundsson (Iceland)

DRAMARAMA (VILLILJÓS), 2001
Ragnar Bragason, Dagur Kári (Iceland)

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