Planet of the Apes Prequel (Rise of the Apes)

[Rappy Veteran]

And I thought this project was dead! Deadline is reporting that British director Rupert Wyatt is Fox's top choice to direct the Planet of the Apes prequel. Wait - there's a Planet of the Apes prequel? We've been reporting various rumors and rumblings about a new Apes movie for years, but it never got off the ground. Now this hits almost out of nowhere. Deadline's report is also suspiciously brief, stating: "No start date, but Wyatt's come aboard to develop to direct." They also say the script they're using was written by Rick Jaffa (The Relic) and Amanda Silver (The Hand That Rocks the Cradle). So who is this Rupert Wyatt guy anyway?

Wyatt is a British filmmaker who got his start directing a few short films. He then directed his first feature called The Escapist in 2008, which was one of my favorite movies of that year. He hasn't directed anything since then, but if you've seen The Escapist (and not many people have), you will agree with me about how much potential this guy has, especially if they give him a huge project like Planet of the Apes. Speaking of which, I have a feeling Fox wants to keep this grounded and low budget, so that it can't potentially flop big like Tim Burton's Planets of the Apes. But details are sparse at the moment and it's too early to tell anyway.

The last time we wrote about Planet of the Apes was back in December of 2008 and it was only to provide an update on an Apes prequel called Caesar written (and to be directed) by Scott Frank. However, it looks like that project was thrown out and Fox may be going a different route, but then again Deadline never mentions the name of the project that Wyatt is now developing (it could be Caesar). I did a quick search and found an article from January this year on CHUD that confirms that Frank left the prequel, which explains why Wyatt is now on-board instead. We'll let you know if we hear anything else about this, so stay tuned.

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Edited May 6, 2010 by Rappy

[Neo003]

Really dude prequeal, they haven't finished the first one properly yet. :no:

[Growled Member]

They probably never will finish it now.

[Rappy Veteran]

Production Weekly reports that 20th Century Fox has opened production offices at Mammoth Studios in Burnaby, BC with a planned July start for Planet of the Apes: Caesar, the forthcoming prequel to the Tim Burton directed remake that will be helmed by Rupert Wyatt (The Escapist). The script's by Rick Jaffa and Amanda Silver. No other details were available, but the title "Caesar" does provide some clues: "Milo, better known as Caesar, is the son of talking chimpanzees Cornelius and Zira, in the Planet of the Apes movie series. He is the leader (and chief instigator) of the ape revolution in the fourth entry, Conquest of the Planet of the Apes, and the ruler of Ape City in the fifth and final film, Battle for the Planet of the Apes." - Wiki.

[hackdoom]

Failure. :)

I'd recommend anyone to watch the original with Charlton Heston, however.

[houlty]

i'm more looking forward to Wyatt's Birdsong... i'm a big fan of the book by sebastian faulks.

[.Kompressor]

I remember posting about the first Wahlberg film a couple months back that it was an interesting take on the series...and I always would've like to have seen what happened when he returned to earth that had been taken over by the Apes with the Ape Lincoln statue. lol

would be interesting to see where they go with this...

[*RedBull*]

I found the 2001 version of POTA was very good. Yeah it had a few holes in it, but to me overall it was good. OH well

[Rappy Veteran]

20th Century Fox has announced a June 24th 2011 release date for the Planet of the Apes prequel Rise of the Apes. The Escapist helmer Rupert Wyatt will direct from a screenplay by Amanda Silver and Rick Jaffa.

Fox has released the official plot synopsis:

RISE OF THE APES (tentative title) is an origin story in the truest sense of the term. Set in present day San Francisco, the film is a reality-based cautionary tale, a science fiction/science fact blend, where man?s own experiments with genetic engineering lead to the development of intelligence in apes and the onset of a war for supremacy.

The Apes will be created using CGI by the wonderful tram at WETA Digital, rather than the costumed actors we?ve seen in past installments of the franchise. The press release says that they will employ ?certain of the groundbreaking technologies developed for AVATAR? and ?will render, for the first time ever in the film series, photo-realistic apes rather than costumed actors.?

Source

[SuperJediMedia]

At least it's NOT another remake!

[LOC Veteran]

I think it's a shame it isn't a sequel or at least some sort of continuation from the Planet of the Apes remake. Unlike most people I thought it was quite good, and well look who made it you can't argue it wasn't a good looking movie (I'm not talking SFX, tho those were good also for the time). I wanted to know what the hell happened at the end etc like most people.

And while I'm not sure about fully CG Apes for this prequel, I'm also glad it isn't ANOTHER reboot. WETA can do great stuff, but hmmm. Maybe they can go right into Beneath the Planet of the Apes for the next one after, with the Humans praying to a giant doomsday nuke in a subway tunnel :D

[qdave]

Planet of the apes...again! There are dozens of these films :/

But i guess another one, if done well, wouldnt hurt.

[Rappy Veteran]

James Franco (Spider-Man/Milk) has been cast as the lead in 20th Century Fox?s Planet of the Apes prequel Rise of the Apes. The Escapist helmer Rupert Wyatt will direct from a screenplay by Amanda Silver and Rick Jaffa. Franco will play ?a young, driven scientist who becomes a crucial figure in the war between humans and apes.?

Variety reports that Franco beat out ?a number of Hollywood?s young elite actors? for the role. Principal photography is set to begin on July 5th 2010, and the film has an announced release date of June 24th 2011.

Read More

[Ayepecks]

I've never cared for Franco, personally. I liked the sound of this movie before they redid it with a new writer and director... I'll keep my eye on it, but I don't have much hope.

[JonathanVP]

No 3D version?

[Antaris Veteran]

I've never cared for Franco, personally. I liked the sound of this movie before they redid it with a new writer and director... I'll keep my eye on it, but I don't have much hope.

I didn't think much of him in Spiderman, haven't watched anything else he has been in...

[Orange]

Why why why are they milking this... I say to anyone watch the 1968 version, the real version.. and CGI apes.. don't work in my view it be poor.

[Rappy Veteran]

Bloody Disgusting is reporting that offers have been made to both Frida Pinto (Slumdog Millionaire) and Don Cheadle (Iron Man 2) for Twentieth Century Fox's "Ceasar" , seemingly the earlier title for what is now Planet Of The Apes: Rise Of The Apes(tentative title). Catchy eh? James Franco will play the lead in the Rupert Wyatt directed prequel described as an origin story. No word as yet on who Chaedle and Pinto would play.

Source

[Jonny_ Rockafella]

I think it's time for Hollywood to stop destroying the legacy of past films and come up with more original ideas for franchises.

[Rappy Veteran]

John Lithgow has signed on to join in 20th Century Fox?s Planet of the Apes prequel Rise of the Apes. Lithgow joins James Franco (Spider-Man/Milk) who is set to play the lead, ?a young, driven scientist who becomes a crucial figure in the war between humans and apes.? Lithgow will play Franco?s Alzheimer?s-stricken father. and Freida Pinto (Slumdog Millionaire) is set to play Caroline, the film?s female lead who is ?a primatologist.? Don Cheadle (Iron Man) is also rumored to be on board. The Escapist helmer Rupert Wyatt will direct from a screenplay by Amanda Silver and Rick Jaffa.

Lithgow is a two-time Oscar nominated actor for his supporting performances in Terms of Endearment and The World According to Garp. He has also been nominated for nine Emmys, four of which he won. His role as the villain on last season?s Dexter was one of the most talked about performances in the last year of television.

Read more: John Lithgow Joins Planet of the Apes Prequel | /Film http://www.slashfilm.com/2010/06/22/john-lithgow-joins-planet-of-the-apes-prequel/#ixzz0rgM2tYpx

[LOC Veteran]

Now that's sweeeeeeeeet. Love Lithgow.

[Rappy Veteran]

Now that's sweeeeeeeeet. Love Lithgow.

yeah he's awesome!

[Rappy Veteran]

Straight off the John Landis horror comedy Burke & Hare, Andy Serkis has been cast in the key role of Caesar in 20th Century Fox's Rise of the Apes, the studio's Planet of the Apes prequel that stars James Franco, Freida Pinto and John Lithgow. Set in present day San Francisco, "Apes" deals with the aftermath of man's experiments with genetic engineering that lead to the development of intelligence in apes and the onset of a war for supremacy. Franco is a driven scientist who becomes a crucial figure in the war between humans and apes. Serkis plays the chimpanzee who leads the uprising among the apes after having been raised by Franco and Lithgow's characters, who are father and son in the film. Rupert Wyatt begins lensing the origins story next month. Film unspools in theaters June 24, 2011.

[Rappy Veteran]

Brian Cox (Red, Zodiac, Trick 'r Treat) is set to reunite with The Escapist director Rupert Wyatt for 20th Century Fox's Rise of the Apes, reports TheWrap. Cox is in final negotiations to play the villainous owner of a primate sanctuary who runs the facility without compassion for the animals that live there. James Franco, Freida Pinto, John Lithgow and Andy Serkis star in the "Planet of the Apes" prequel that Wyatt is directing from a script by Amanda Silver and Rick Jaffa. Described as an origin story, "Apes" is set in present day San Francisco and deals with the aftermath of man's experiments with genetic engineering that lead to the development of intelligence in apes and the onset of a war for supremacy. Franco will play a driven scientist who becomes a crucial figure in the war between humans and apes. In theaters June 24, 2011.

[Rappy Veteran]

Tom Felton, the Harry Potter star known infamously as Draco Malfoy, has joined Rupert Wyatt's 'Planet of the Apes' prequel, 'Rise of the Apes.'

Felton's role in the film will be as Brian Cox's son, the co-owner of an ape facility.

Tom Felton will be joining a cast already comprised of talented actors such as James Franco, Freida Pinto, John Lithgow, Brian Cox, and Andy Serkis. The film is set for release in 2011!