Arabian Nights set for Hollywood makeover

Ben Child – guardian.co.uk

Director of the Mummy spin-off The Scorpion King signs up to give a new spin to the classic characters of One Thousand and One Nights

It introduced the world to such exotic characters as Aladdin, Sinbad, and Ali Baba and the 40 Thieves. Now Hollywood has set its heart on bringing Arabian Nights to the big screen, according to Variety.

Chuck Russell, director of the Mummy spin-off The Scorpion King, is reportedly planning a $70m (£42m) new spin which unites Aladdin and Sinbad on a mission that you wouldn’t find in the original collection of Middle Eastern tales known as One Thousand and One Nights.

According to the synopsis, storyteller Scheherazade needs rescuing after being kidnapped by “dark powers” which have murdered her husband, King Shahryar. Russell has co-written the screenplay with newcomer Barry Ambrose.

“Through the use of a new generation of visual technologies, we will be able to quite literally take audiences around the world on a magic carpet ride,” Russell said.

The project is announced at a time when Hollywood appears to be showing a renewed interest in Middle Eastern fantasy. Videogame adaptation Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time, from the production team behind the Pirates of the Caribbean series, is due in cinemas in May. The big-budget production stars Jake Gyllenhaal as the titular hero, alongside Gemma Arterton, Alfred Molina and Ben Kingsley.

Amazon Specials!

2009 ALMA Awards Honorees in Movies

Sofia Vergara

from AceShowBiz.com

Javier Bardem and Joaquin Phoenix are vying for Best Actor of the Year title, while Cameron Diaz, Eva Mendes and Penelope Cruz will battle it out for the actress kudo.

The honorees for ALMA Awards 2009′s special achievement in motion picture category have been unraveled by the National Council of

Eva Mendes

La Raza. On Tuesday, August 25 at a news conference at Beso Restaurant, NCLR President and CEO Janet Murguia and Executive Producer Eva Longoria revealed that there will be 11 actors and 8 actresses competing for Best Actor and Best Actress.

Among those vying for Best Actor of the Year title are “Vicky Cristina Barcelona” leading man Javier Bardem, “Two Lovers” star Joaquin Phoenix and “Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen” actor Ramon Rodriguez. Meanwhile, the actresses receiving nominations include Cameron Diaz, Eva Mendes, Michelle Rodriguez, Penelope Cruz and Rosario Dawson.

Beside the performers in motion pictures, a number of film crew also get a shot at winning Behind the Scenes honor. “High School Musical 3: Senior Year” director Kenny Ortega, “Hellboy II: The Golden Army” helmer Guillermo del Toro, “Twilight” make-up artist Jeanne Van Phue and “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button” cinematographer Claudio Miranda are among them.

The larger number of nominees for each category is part of the significant format change for this year’s ALMA Awards. “If you like the ALMA Awards, you will love this year’s show because we’re bringing you more of what you love most, unique musical pairings and the best Latino entertainment,” Murguia shared on the changes.

The 2009 ALMA Awards will be taped on September 17 at the Royce Hall Auditorium at UCLA and aired on ABC Television Network the next day, September 18 from 8:00 to 10:00 P.M. ET/PT. Eva Longoria will co-host with George Lopez. To give special honors to Salma Hayek and Oscar De La Hoya, and special tribute to the late Ricardo Montalban, ALMA also honors the best in television, music and sports television.

Zoe Saldana

2009 ALMA Awards’ Special Achievement Honorees for Year in Film:
Best Actor of the Year:

Alfred Molina, “The Pink Panther 2″

Cheech Marin, “Race to Witch Mountain”

Freddy Rodriguez, “Nothing Like the Holidays”

Oscar Nunez, “The Proposal”

Clifton Collins Jr., “Star Trek” and “Crank: High Voltage”

Efren Ramirez, “Crank: High Voltage”

Javier Bardem, “Vicky Cristina Barcelona”

Joaquin Phoenix, “Two Lovers”

John Leguizamo, “Nothing Like the Holidays”

Luis Guzman, “The Taking of Pelham 123″

Ramon Rodriguez, “Transformers: Revenge of The Fallen”

 

Best Actress of the Year:

Elisabeth Pena, “Nothing Like the Holidays”

Sofia Vergara, “Madea Goes to Jail”

Cameron Diaz, “My Sister’s Keeper”

Eva Mendes, “The Women” and “The Spirit”

Michelle Rodriguez, “Fast and Furious”

Penelope Cruz, “Vicky Cristina Barcelona”

Rosario Dawson, “Seven Pounds”

Zoe Saldana, “Star Trek”

First Official Image of Jake Gyllenhaal as Prince of Persia

Jake Gyllenhaal as Prince of Persia

Mark Gorelord – GoreMaster.com News

   The official working title is Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time and it’s slated for a May 2010 release.

  The story,set in medieval Persia, 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. The prince was tricked by a dying Vizier to unleash the Sands of Time and it turns out to destroy the kingdom and transforms its populace into ferocious demons. In his effort to save his own kingdom and redeem his fatal mistake, it’s up to the prince and the princess to return the sands to the hourglass by using the Dagger of Time, which also gives him a limited control over the flow of time.

  The cast includes Jake Gyllenhaal, Gemma Arterton, Ben Kingsley and Alfred Molina.