Disney, Bruckheimer talking 'Prince'

Newell in negotiations to direct live action film

By MICHAEL FLEMING

Newell

Disney and producer Jerry Bruckheimer have made an offer to Mike Newell to direct "Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time," a live-action feature based on the videogame.

Newell, who last ventured into franchise fare with "Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire," met execs at the studio to discuss the project this week, and negotiations are expected to begin shortly.

The vidgame has spawned six installments and several spinoffs, prompting studio hopes that the project will have tentpole potential.

"Prince of Persia" has a script by Jeffrey Nachmanoff ("The Day After Tomorrow") and vidgame creator Jordan Mechner.Disney, whose topper, Oren Aviv, will put as many as seven films in production between now and March, recently decided not to race to get "Prince of Persia" into production until labor issues are resolved.

Newell most recently helmed "Love in the Time of Cholera."