Survey favors Persian prince for Prince of Persia role

48 Comments by Justin McElroy Mar 17th 2008 4:45PM
Filed under: Culture, Action

Normally, we're not in favor of stunt casting, but this may be almost too good to pass up. IESB.net got its hands on a casting survey that was circulated asking participants who they'd select to play the titular role in an upcoming film version of Prince of Persia. Their top pick (by an impressive margin) was David Zandi, an actor and movie executive who is, himself, a Persian prince.

But the type-casting doesn't stop there. A quick look at his IMDB profile reveals that he's also a champion equestrian and has trained in fencing and Roman sword fighting. Also, he's in possession of a magical dagger that allows him to bend the very flow of time, which moves it from coincedence to just plain eerie.

Tags: david-zandi, movies, prince-of-persia

Source

(Page 1) Reader Comments

Lonecow: Mar 17th 2008; 4:51PM

The role he was born to play!

Maverick Saturn: Mar 17th 2008; 4:52PM

Racist! :O lol

Saria the Cat: Mar 17th 2008; 5:55PM

Pssh, nowadays ALL the actors possess time-bending daggers. It's how they stop from aging.

Mr Khan: Mar 17th 2008; 4:53PM

Huh, so that's what the relatives of the old shah are doing. You here so much about Iran, but so little about them.

aaron_k7: Mar 17th 2008; 4:58PM

Screw that! Use the French parkour dude from "District B13" and turn him loose on some obstacles.

waynski1457: Mar 17th 2008; 5:04PM

part of me wants to agree with you, but this is just way to convenient to pass. i say go with Zandi.

aaron_k7: Mar 17th 2008; 5:06PM

I think the French dude should be the stunt double, though. That would work out nicely.

waynski1457: Mar 17th 2008; 5:24PM

i, for one, wouldnt have any probs with that.

upz: Mar 17th 2008; 8:57PM

What about the fact that every time the prince does anything, he turns into a black guy?

capt.strugglebunny: Mar 17th 2008; 5:02PM

Old news is old.

But yeah, he should get the part.

Jansperus: Mar 17th 2008; 5:05PM

I would much more prefer Van Damme.

Maverick Saturn: Mar 17th 2008; 5:10PM

Oh god, hell no :P

Hala Madrid!!! SSBB Code:3866-7729-0830: Mar 17th 2008; 5:27PM

Who's tougher Jean-Claude Van Damme or Chuck Norris?
Here's some pictures to help you decide
http://www.sjurbo.com/wordpress/wp-content/2007/07/jeanclaude_van_damme.jpg
http://nicedeb.files.wordpress.com/2007/12/chuck_norris.jpg

Kye NFC: 7016 - 9552 - 1191 - 8991: Mar 17th 2008; 7:18PM

In a fight at their respective primes, I would put my money on Van Damme.

However, Chuck has more cult status and so would win in a celebrity death match.

http://xmb.stuffucanuse.com/xmb/viewthread.php?tid=1483

Get the book, it's worth it.

ThornedVenom (Harley Quinn Defense Force): Mar 17th 2008; 7:28PM

Please, no more Mr. splits Van Damme.

why not the LS2LS7?: Mar 17th 2008; 5:14PM

He can't be a Persian prince. Persia stopped existing long before he was born. He's an Iranian prince.

Crono (NDF - Knight of the Old School): Mar 17th 2008; 5:15PM

Semantic arguments are semantic.

Batzarro: Mar 17th 2008; 5:17PM

Stop killing irony!

ThornedVenom (Harley Quinn Defense Force): Mar 17th 2008; 7:30PM

He's from the Persian royalty bloodline, therefore he'd be Prince of Persia.

Not Prince of Iran.

why not the LS2LS7?: Mar 17th 2008; 9:09PM

Oh yeah, are there a lot of Norman princes around?

You can't be prince of something that doesn't exist.

ThornedVenom (Harley Quinn Defense Force): Mar 17th 2008; 9:34PM

Let's say that for example, you come from the Ottoman Imperial bloodline, while you wouldn't properly be an Ottoman Emperor since that Empire was broken down, you can't really say that you'd be the Turkish Emperor because there never was such a thing.

But there was such a thing as an Ottoman Emperor, such as there was a thing as a Persian Prince.

Envoy: Mar 17th 2008; 5:16PM

Jesus?!

tmacairjordan87: Mar 17th 2008; 7:40PM

no, here is jesus

http://weblogs.newsday.com/sports/football/bob_blog/johnnydamon.jpg

Viridium: Mar 18th 2008; 8:59AM

tmacairjordan87, that looks like some kind of hippie retard Jesus.

NATO_Duke: Mar 17th 2008; 5:16PM

Sooooooo...what your saying to me is that if I become a Robocob I can get the roll in a new Robocop movie right? Sweet!

ugg.tryptophan: Mar 17th 2008; 11:52PM

No, if you become a robocob you will be smothered in warm butter and eaten by robocop

Batzarro: Mar 17th 2008; 5:19PM

Better get shot by crooks fast...

http://www.cinematical.com/2008/03/16/a-new-robocop-movie-really/

NATO_Duke: Mar 17th 2008; 5:23PM

Oh wow - thanks for the tip!

LiqwidZero: Mar 17th 2008; 5:25PM

I'm just trying to figure out how Zac Efron ended up on the survey. How in the hell would vote for that douchy looking kid (excluding 6-14 year old girls and some homosexuals)?

Spirit-of: Mar 17th 2008; 8:11PM

Zac Efron as Link, yes.

Zac Efron as The Prince, hells naw!

Prince as The Prince, a match made in heaven.

mr mobius: Mar 17th 2008; 5:33PM

Now, who could you get to play Zelda if a Zelda movie was ever made. I'd very much like to know so I can obsess over who she'd be.

Saria the Cat: Mar 17th 2008; 6:00PM

I don't know about Zelda but if there was a Saria role, I'd be all over it (minus the sexual innuendo).

Paviel: Mar 17th 2008; 7:57PM

I'd say Cate Blanchett, but nobody wants to typecast her as an elf witch (which everybody will see Zelda as, even if the Hylians are technically human...)

mr mobius: Mar 17th 2008; 8:00PM

She is too old. My thought would went more towards Zooey Deschanel personally.

Easo: Mar 17th 2008; 11:06PM

These chicks.

http://www.dsfanboy.com/photos/cosplaying-link-duo/678187/

Alexisonfire: Mar 17th 2008; 5:47PM

Lets just hope that by casting him they aren't inspired to make the movie take place in present day, becoming some sort of fantasy semi-biography for Mr. Zandi.

shawn: Mar 17th 2008; 6:24PM

so what makes him qualified for this role? the fact that hes royalty? thats just stupid, he could be a horrible actor.

rTwelve [xbl:Chilblane]: Mar 17th 2008; 6:31PM

>>A quick look at his IMDB profile reveals that he's also a champion equestrian and has trained in fencing and Roman sword fighting.

because Prince of Persia is soooooo about riding whales and boxing, amirite?

ThornedVenom (Harley Quinn Defense Force): Mar 17th 2008; 7:31PM

I had sent this tip in, but no credit?

Guess I'll have to go to freecreditreport.com

colin: Mar 17th 2008; 9:28PM

you win for today. everyone else can just pack it up and go on home. I actually loled in real life while reading your statement.

Deck: Mar 17th 2008; 8:48PM

For the fact alone that he is a true Persian Prince, he should get the role. No matter his acting ability! Well maybe.. that should go into account somewhat..

Cheese Muffin: Mar 17th 2008; 8:53PM

You forget this is a video game movie. Acting is not necessary.

Deck: Mar 17th 2008; 11:04PM

@Cheese Ahh yes, that I did forget. Thanks for the clarification!

Carlitos Colon: Mar 17th 2008; 8:59PM

That is a beautiful, beautiful man.

OdorousSoup: Mar 18th 2008; 3:25AM

I'm relatively certain that guy is Jesus.

Like, if he showed up at my door and offered me a fish, I'd convert to Christianity on the spot.

Abscissa: Mar 18th 2008; 2:45PM

Judging by that picture, he certainly looks the part.

Th3 ProphetMan: Mar 19th 2008; 4:11AM

That's impressive! and a little bit racist... :D

hvnlysoldr: Mar 31st 2008; 7:20PM

The irony is astounding.

Ehrgeiz, Brave Fencer Musashi on Japanese PSN The Last Guy teaser site opens PS Nation Podcast 068 - Gooey Independence	New European server, Blade's Edge, opens today [Updated] Oceanic players get their own forum Forum post of the day: Table plz
New Banjo Kazooie videos and screens Halo 3 Series 2 figures now available You like Sin City's visual effects? So did Ubisoft	Logic 3 opens preorders on keyboard peripheral for Wii Watch this Active Life trailer from your desk chair More like Complicated 2000
Unique Nintendo coin celebrates a successful DS launch Rock out with your Guitar Grip out This case is hungry for handhelds	Ehrgeiz, Brave Fencer Musashi on Japanese PSN Meet with PS fanboys in LA next week Star Wars Battlefront III could be heading to PSP

Breaking News »