James Franco creates intelligent apes in "Rise of the Apes"

By Siewaun
Reference: heatvisionblog

James Franco (" Pineapple Express," "Milk") has secured the lead role in 20th Century Fox's "Rise of the Apes," a prequel to "Planet of the Apes."

Rupert Wyatt, who directed the award winning British prison escape thriller "The Escapist," is set to direct the prequel from script written by Amanda Silver and Rick Jaffa.

Franco will star as a determined scientist who becomes a crucial figure in the war between humans and apes.

Set in modern day San Francisco, "Rise" centers on Franco's scientist character who has been working on a cure for Alzheimer's that is being tested on apes. When one of the test subject, named Caesar, begins to evolve rapidly, and the scientist takes him home to live with him and protects him from cruel doctors.

With WETA Digital on board, the audience will not see actors in apes costume, but rather a photo-realistic apes, created using some of the groundbreaking technologies developed for "Avatar."

Chernin Entertainment's founder Peter Chernin and film division chief Dylan Clark are co-producing along with Amanda Silver and Rick Jaffa.

Shooting is scheduled to begin July 5 in British Columbia, and will be released on June 24, 2011.