Screenwriter/Executive Producer John August has laid down his views regarding Disney’s planned release date for the Prince of Persia adaptation, he’s not so sure:

Several sites have reported that Disney has picked July 10, 2009 as the release date for Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time. My guess is that this got written on a whiteboard at some strategic planning meeting, in answer to the question, “Hey, if we made that Prince of Persia movie, when would we release it?”

It’s a perfectly good date, but I have no idea if there will be a movie to show. I don’t know if it’s getting made, or who’s directing, or who’s starring. No one knows, not even the people signing the checks. It’s still a project in development.

John’s Site.

Maybe late summer 2009? We’ll have to see how things develop.

Nothing more to really say, Disney has set forth not just a vague Summer 2009 indication, but a specific date – July 10th to be exact, 2 years and one month from now. The ball, like that one in Indiana Jones, is certainly rolling now, Parkour and all.

Via ComingSoon.

Latino Review is a website infamous for its early previews, publications and reviews of in-development first draft scripts. This time they have done it again with a review of Bruckheimer’s Prince of Persia adaptation, with screenplay written by Jordan Mechner and Jeffrey Nachmanoff. Their conclusion?

Rating: A-, Almost Perfect

What does that mean in real terms? Not a lot really, but it is encouraging. To surmise the fairly lengthy review:

• Expect a lot of Parkour (remember that scene in Casino Royale?) – Personally I feel that this film is perfect for some parkour exhibitionism, melding seamlessly with the subject matter: “Parkour is a physical art of French origin, the aim of which is to move from point A to point B as efficiently and quickly as possible, using principally the abilities of the human body.“
• The script begins with Nizam and the Persian Army intercepting some smugglers. Distan is introduced in a knife throwing contest.
• Distan is soon in possession of a ceremonial dagger with a glass handle filled with sand and encrusted with stones.
• By the end of act 1 the storyline of the film is setup (not revealed here) and the powers of the dagger briefly unveiled.

And here is a prospective movie poster: