More getting PoPped

Actors Alfred Molina and Sir Ben Kingsley have been added to the cast of Prince of Persia. Confirmed yesterday, Molina will play Sheik Amar, who becomes a mentor to the prince, while Kingsley's role hasn't yet been revealed but speculation that he will probably play the Vizier, the main villain in the film. Flashes of Kingsley as Don Logan from Sexy Beast immediately come to mind.

Alfred Molina has more than 70 film, TV and theater roles to his credit. He made his movie breakthrough in 1987 as Joe Orton's doomed lover, Kenneth Halliwell, in "Prick Up Your Ears." But his first significant role was in the original Raiders of the Lost Ark. Other memorable performances include playing Diego Rivera opposite Salma Hayek in "Frida," and lead roles in "Spiderman 2", "Identity," "Chocolat," "Boogie Nights," "The Imposters," "Anna Karenina," "Species," "Maverick," "Enchanted April" and Jim Jarmusch's "Coffee and Cigarettes." But how can you forget his role as Snidely Whiplash in the movie version of Dudley Do Right. Jake may have to confer with him about the Snidely mustache both have sported.


Sir Ben Kingsley began his career on television, working of various series, including Coronation Street, for 20 years, before his break out into movies with the role of a lifetime as Mohandas Gandhi in Richard Attenborough's Academy award winning epic movie on the man. Kingsley won both the BAFTA and the Academy Award for his role. He went on to be nominated for his role as Don Lucas in Sexy Beast. Other memorable performances of Kingsley's include, Schindler's List, House of Sand and Fog, Searching for Bobby Fisher, and this month OMG movie club selection Maurice.

With the addition of these strong actors, PoP is looking even better and better. And Jake will get to add another Academy Award winner to his list of co-stars.