Last month we informed you of a start date for the filming of CAESAR, a prequel to Tim Burton’s reincarnation of PLANET OF THE APES. Well, word out of Variety today states the film has undergone a title change and is now to be referred to as RISE OF THE APES. Which is better! Not only that, the trade has issued a release date for the flick. And that date is…wait…it’s coming…June 24th, 2011!
Roughly a year away and the film hasn’t even commenced rolling? These guys better shape up and get some shite in the can pronto!
But that’s not all the news on RISE OF THE APES! It’s also been learned that Peter Jackson’s digital FX team WETA has come aboard to handle the look of the new generation’s apes. Quite a coup for director Rupert Wyatt. Wait, who?
Rupert, the British filmmaker of such titles as THE ESCAPIST, SUBTERRAIN, and the upcoming BIRDSONG (which stars Brian Cox, Paddy Considine and Michael Fassbender) – will work from a script by Rick Jaffa and Amanda Silver.
Here’s how the CAESAR plot-crunch went down (just omit the name Caesar and you get this gist):
‘Caesar’ refers to the genetically altered leader of the simian rebellion, so dubbed because the ape was capable of grand strategic thinking on par with Julius Caesar. The ‘Caesar’ code name also foreshadowed the script’s plot: Like the actual Julius Caesar, the ape begins a (wait for it … ) guerrilla war and emerges the emperor of the known world.
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. He was portrayed in both movies by actor Roddy McDowall, who had also played Cornelius.
Or, as Variety puts it: “Rise of the Apes” is an origins story set in present-day San Francisco. The film is a reality-based cautionary tale, where man’s own experiments with genetic engineering lead to the development of intelligence in apes and the onset of a war for supremacy.
So what do you guys have to offer on this matter? You in favor of the title change? You diggin’ WETA jumping onboard? Would you rather see someone else direct altogether?
Give us the good word!
RISE OF THE APES, in theaters June 24, 2011!
Estella Warren made quite a bangable ape!
The comment section exists to allow readers to discuss the article constructively and respectfully, focused on the topic at hand.
What’s Not Allowed