Normally, I would be less than enthusiastic about a reboot or remake of a movie franchise that I loved as a younger man. However, in the case of Planet of the Apes, that ship sailed several years ago with Tim Burton’s lame attempt at a Planet of the Apes reboot starring Mark Whalberg. So, with that bad taste still in my mouth, I actually welcome another opportunity to do an Apes film correctly. Let’s hope Fox feels the same way as they are getting a new Apes prequel off the ground.
The new film, which used to be called Caesar and is now tentatively titled Rise of the Apes, will reportedly be a completely new take on the franchise with visual effects from New Zeland’s own WETA Digital, which will create full CG apes for the film instead of having actors in make-up. The story, set in present-day San Francisco, will involve genetic experimentation that eventually leads to intelligent apes.
Of course, these new intelligent apes don’t like the idea of servitude to their human masters and eventually rise up in revolt. Once this happens, humans and apes began a war for domination of the planet. The film is being written by Amanda Silver & Rick Jaffa (The Relic) and will be directed by Rupert Wyatt (The Escapist).
I know what you’re thinking but I, for one, am going to give this new film a chance. After all, it can’t be any worse than Burton’s version so we’ve got nowhere to go but up.
Rise of the Apes hits theaters on June 24, 2011.
