Entertainment Weekly today confirmed Jake Gyllenhaal has signed on to play the lead character in Walt Disney’s upcoming action adventure “Prince of Persia: Sands of Time.”

Based on the popular video game franchise, the film follows Dastan, a young prince who teams up with a charming princess to prevent a ruthless nobleman from obtaining a relic that can reverse time. The story is set in 6th century Persia.

Mike Newell (“Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire”) is directing a script penned by Doug Miro, Jordan Mechner, CarloBernard and Carlo Bernard. The film is scheduled to head into production in Morocco this summer, with a release date tentatively set for summer 2009.

Gyllenhaal most recently starred in Gavin Hood’s political drama “Rendition.” He will next be seen in Jim Sheridan’s remake “Brothers” and is currently filming “Nailed” for David O. Russell.