Prince Of Persia Bound For Morocco

Director Mike Newell will shoot action-adventure flick PRINCE OF PERSIA: SANDS OF TIME in Morocco, VARIETY reports.

The video-game based film is produced by Jerry Bruckheimer and Disney from a script by THE DAY AFTER TOMORROW writer Jeffrey Nachmanoff and game creator Jordan Mechner.

Disney hopes to create a new franchise a la PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN from the video game's six installments and numerous spin-offs.

Shooting in Morocco will boost the country's film business, who also recently hosted shoots of Tom Hanks-led CHARLIE WILSON'S WAR, Kimberly Peirce's STOP-LOSS, Ridley Scott's BODY OF LIES and Paul Greengrass' untitled Iraq war thriller.

PRINCE OF PERSIA is set to start filming in mid-June, provided there is no SAG strike, and will also film in Blighty's Pinewood Shepperton studios.

Dune Films' Jimmy Abounouom is representing the shoot in Morocco for Disney.