'Persia' release postponed until 2010

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LOS ANGELES, Aug. 1 (UPI) -- The release of "Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time," Hollywood's big-screen adaptation of the popular video game, reportedly has been postponed a year.

Director Mike Newell began shooting the film, starring Jake Gyllenhaal, Gemma Arterton, Ben Kingsley and Alfred Molina, in Morocco last week.

Variety.com said Disney and producer Jerry Bruckheimer changed the movie's release date from June 19, 2009, to Memorial Day weekend 2010 because they wanted to have enough time in post-production to work on the fantasy action flick's extensive special effects.

The entertainment industry trade newspaper noted, however, that the change in date also means "Prince of Persia" won't be competing at the box office with "Transformers 2," which is to open on June 26, 2009.