From KING KONG To PLANET OF THE APES
Posted by: Monster Island News on June 30th, 2010
Written By: Ken Hulsey
Source: WENN
Actor Andy Serkis, who has the pleasure of playing both King Kong and Gollum, will now have the chance to play another of cinema’s greatest simians, Caesar, from the “Planet of the Apes.”
Indeed, the performer who has the uncanny ability to mimic animal movements, has been cast as the leader of an ape rebellion over mankind in 20th Century Fox’s reboot of the popular “Apes” franchise entitled, “Rise of the Apes.”
Though many news outlets are reporting that Serkis will be donning an ape costume and makeup similar to the kind made famous by John Chambers in the 1960s and 70s, it is safe to assume from the reports that have surfaced that the actor will once again be used as a model for a CGI character.
Of course, the fact that Peter Jackson’s effects house, WETA Digital, has been hired to work on the film’s effects probably is a dead giveaway here.
Not much is known about the film as of yet, but early reports stated that the film would center around the genetic engineering of apes to be used as slaves for mankind, similar to the plot of “Conquest of the Planet of the Apes”. As can be expected, these intelligent primates soon get sick of being treated like animals and join forces to turn the tables on us human types.
“Rise of the Apes” is set to begin filming next month in San Francisco under the direction of Rupert Wyatt. Other cast members include Slumdog Millionaire star Freida Pinto, James Franco and John Lithgow.
See Also: James Franco Cast In The New PLANET OF THE APES film / Planet of the Apes: Caesar Set To Begin Production In July / Scott Frank Plans To Take Planet Of The Apes In A New Direction / Is Fox Planning To Re-Boot The Planet Of The Apes? / Escape From The Planet Of The Apes (1971)(20th Century Fox) / Beneath The Planet Of The Apes (1970)(20th Century Fox) / Actress Profile – Linda Harrison / Planet Of The Apes (1974)(TV) / Planet Of The Apes (1968)
Founder of the popular monster and sci-fi blogs Monster Island News and Godzilla 3D News and Information.
Ken Hulsey began his writing career in 2000 when he founded kensforce.com a popular site with fans of Japanese sci fi/monster movies (Godzilla, Gamera and the like) and other B movies.
In 2008, he closed down his original site and created the blog "Monster Island News" a showcase for classic horror/monster films and independent/alternative cinema.
“I hate every Ape I see, from Chimpan-A to Chimpanzee…
“Oh they’ll never make a monkey out of me…”
-Troy MaClure in the musical version of Planet of the Apes.
“Take your stinkin paws off me, you damn dirty ape!”
I just couldn’t help myself. God I love Charleton Heston.
Doesn’t Hollywood have original ideas anymore?
It’s unclear whether just the apes will be CG, or the entire movie. Even with a $300 Million budget, like Avatar, the CG characters still don’t look 100% real. The actors look like real humans interacting with digital characters. CG generated humans and creatures have come a long way but it’s still not perfect. Amazingly, Gollum from LOTR, a 2001 film, looks more believable and interacts better with the real characters than some current 3D animated characters.
This is the POTA director’s second film. The first was a prison break movie that was pretty well done. Obviously, well done enough to helm a big budget remake of a classic.
“”Actor Andy Serkis, who has the pleasure of playing both King Kong and Gollum, will now have the chance to play another of cinema’s greatest simians, Caesar, from the “Planet of the Apes.””
I suppose we can look forward to Caesar going ice dancing and getting soppy over sunsets if Andy Serkis is involved???
Haven’t these people learned from the debacles of Jackson’s King Kong and Burton’s Planet of the Apes to stop monkeying around with all these old simian classics?
Still, having said that, seeing as in 2 years time it will be the 100th anniversary of Tarzan of the Apes isn’t it about time we got a faithful and great screen version of that classic novel at long last? There hasn’t been one yet.