James Franco has his damn dirty paws on the lead role in “Rise of the Apes,” Fox’s prequel to its “Planet of the Apes” franchise.

Rupert Wyatt is on board to direct the feature project, which focuses on a scientist (Franco) who has been working on a cure for Alzheimer's that is being tested on apes. The test subject named Caesar starts to evolve rapidly, and the scientist takes him home to live with him and protects him from cruel doctors.


The story is designed to be show the modern-day event that set in motion the eventual dominance of apes over humans seen the classic 1960s and '70s movies. It is unclear how much of the movie will focus on the ape inciting an ape revolution, but given that effects company WETA is on board, the monkey play could be significant.


The apes will not be actors in costumes but rather rendered digitally to be photo-realistic by WETA, employing certain of the groundbreaking technologies developed for “Avatar.”

Peter Chernin and Dylan Clark will produce for Chernin Entertainment under its new pact with Fox. Amanda Silver and Rick Jaffa wrote the screenplay and are producing.

The movie will shoot this summer in British Columbia.

Franco is having quite a good 24 hours. In addition to toplining a tentpole, the actor is attached to a “Ricky Stanicky,” comedy spec that sold to Summit last night, and is set to reprise his role as a bad-boy performance artist in ABC's "General Hospital." He is repped by WME and James/Levy Management.

http://www.heatvisionblog.com/2010/05/james-franco-to-star-in-rise-of-the-apes.html

I love The Planet Of The Apes but after the 2001 crappy re-make I am done :confused:

What he said...

I love The Planet Of The Apes but after the 2001 crappy re-make I am done :confused:

This is kind of intriguing, but I thought that in the later original films it was the son of Cornelius and Zira who got the whole shebang going after those two traveled back in time and procreated. It was a convoluted conundrum, but it worked for me. Sort of odd that they want to do a new pre-history.

Why can't someone do an actual adaptation of Pierre Boulle's novel? I love the original '68 film, but they had to make many changes from the novel due to budget constraints, and effects limitations.

This is kind of intriguing, but I thought that in the later original films it was the son of Cornelius and Zira who got the whole shebang going after those two traveled back in time and procreated. It was a convoluted conundrum, but it worked for me. Sort of odd that they want to do a new pre-history.

It's another reboot, sounds like they're creating their own mythos.

Franco is a good actor it may have promise.

John Lithgow and Freida Pinto are coming on board "Rise of the Apes," Fox's prequel to its "Planet of the Apes" franchise starring James Franco.

Rupert Wyatt will direct the feature, which focuses on a scientist (Franco) who has been working on a cure for Alzheimer's that is being tested on apes. The test subject named Caesar evolves rapidly, and the scientist takes him home to live with him and protects him from cruel doctors.

Lithgow will play Franco's Alzheimer's-stricken father. Pinto is the movie's female lead, a primatologist.

The movie shoots this summer in British Columbia.

Peter Chernin and Dylan Clark will produce for Chernin Entertainment. Amanda Silver and Rick Jaffa wrote the screenplay and are producing.

Pinto made her acting debut with "Slumdog Millionaire" and is shooting "Immortals," the Greek gods fantasy directed by Tarsem Singh.

Lithgow is coming off a career-rejuvenating turn as a villainous serial killer in Showtime's "Dexter," a role that earned him a Golden Globe. On film, he last appeared this year in the romantic comedy "Leap Year."

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/content_display/film/news/e3if26e38ae1dcae0570bc603ac3dc7ebc8