Jake Gyllenhaal Had High Hopes for $336M Video Game Movie Adaptation Created as a Pirates of the Caribbean Rival

The 2010 Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time, starring Jake Gyllenhaal as the Prince, certainly had the makings of a hit movie. The video game adaptation had all the ingredients: a talented cast, immersive desert landscapes, intense action, and a big-budget backing from Disney.

It seemed like a primed to launch a major new franchise. However, while the film was met with a positive reception, it failed to spark a multi-film series that Disney hoped for, to rival Pirates of the Caribbean. Even Gyllenhaal had high hopes for its future, but plans for a sequel were ultimately axed.

Jake Gyllenhaal’s hopes for a sequel were crushed by Disney’s decision

For Gyllenhaal, Prince of Persia offered a unique opportunity to take on a character that wasn’t just another superhero or known figure. The role was a complete departure from his usual choices, but he was excited and prepared for the challenge, even enduring grueling training to bring the character to life.

While Gyllenhaal had his personal goals for the role, Disney had its own plans. The studio wanted to create a blockbuster series that could rival Pirates of the Caribbean. With the success of Pirates, Disney saw potential in Prince of Persia and wanted to convert it into its next big action franchise.

Gyllenhaal, too, had high hopes for the franchise and was excited about the potential for more films. In an interview with SlashFilm during filming, he said:

There’s type of high when you make a movie like this, a type of excitement every day that is infectious […] I’m prepared for whatever comes our way.

However, despite the film’s positive reception, particularly for its thrilling action sequences and Gyllenhaal’s good performance, Prince of Persia didn’t generate the kind of financial success that Disney had hoped for.

The adaptation made a solid $336 million at the box office (worldwide), but it was not enough to start the franchise and the studio lost its mojo. Although there were some rumors about potential sequels, it looks like these plans also faded away.

No sequel or a reboot in sight

Fast forward to today, and it seems highly unlikely that Prince of Persia will ever see a revival, whether through a sequel or a reboot. The franchise, once considered to have so much potential, has effectively faded into obscurity.

Disney has long moved on to other projects, and the idea of revisiting the world of Dastan seems to have disappeared. Even Ubisoft, the video game developer behind the original Prince of Persia franchise, has shifted its focus to a new venture, Assassin’s Creed.

The franchise, which at one point seemed full of promise, is now a distant memory. And as time passes, the chances of the franchise making a comeback (even as a game) grow slimmer and slimmer.

In the end, despite Gyllenhaal’s enthusiasm, it’s clear that some movie franchises simply don’t live up to their potential, no matter how much promise they seem to have at the start.