Dawn of the Planet of the Apes Character Posters Feature The Sequel’s Human Cast
Dawn of the Planet of the Apes is one of those rare blockbuster sequels that isn’t completely action based. Director Matt Reeves wants to make the sequel film a more “emotional and thrilling as you watch the apes come into being,” while at the same time building off of what director Rupert Wyatt began with Rise of the Planet of the Apes in 2011. A few weeks ago, Reeves released new character posters for the sequel that features the film’s ape cast. Now new character posters have been released that features some of the film’s human characters.
Actor Jason Clarke is at the center of the sequel film. He plays Malcolm, a CDC scientist and survivor of the dreaded Simian Flu that has wiped out a majority of the Earth’s human population. It’s believed that he will try to find a cure for the deadly disease with his partner, played by Keri Russell, and a character named Dreyfus, played by Gary Oldman.
Meanwhile, Twentieth Century Fox released the sequel film’s first trailer earlier this week. The trailer sets up the film’s initial premise and gives us a good look at an older Caesar with his tribe of ape warriors. Fox also launched the film’s official website (dawnoftheapes.com), which sheds some more light on the world featured in Dawn. Apparently, man and ape have not been in contact with one another in 10 years, with the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco becoming the dividing point between the city where the humans dwell and the Muir Forest where the apes thrive.
Fox recently moved up the sequel film’s release date from July 18, 2014 to July 11. Dawn now sits in the vacant spot left by Fast & Furious 7, after that film’s production went on temporary hiatus following the tragic death of franchise star Paul Walker.
Dawn takes place 10 years after the events of Rise of the Planet of the Apes, in the year 2026. The mysterious Simian Flu virus has wiped out a majority of the human population, while the ape population continues to evolve rapidly. The film’s structure will feature two storylines: one that will follow a small group of human survivalists trying to find a cure, and the other focusing on Caesar’s dominance over the apes. It’s believed the two storylines will come together for an explosive climax.
Dawn of the Planet of the Apes will star Gary Oldman, Jason Clarke, Keri Russell, Kodi Smit-McPhee, Nick Thurston, Toby Kebbell, Karin Konoval, Terry Notary, Judy Greer, and Andy Serkis as Caesar. Matt Reeves (Let Me In, Cloverfield) and screenwriter Mark Bomback (The Wolverine) rewrote Rick Jaffa & Amanda Silver’s script. Jaffa and Silver also wrote Rise of the Planet of the Apes‘ original screenplay.
Dawn of the Planet of the Apes will hit theaters everywhere on July 11, 2014, in 3D.
