Dawn of the Planet of the Apes (Reeves, 2014) S: Serkis, Oldman, Russell, Clarke
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Dawn of the Planet of the Apes (Reeves, 2014) S: Serkis, Oldman, Russell, Clarke
This news was just posted on Deadline Hollywood. In Hollywood, potential sequels usually get writers attached to them first. However, in this case, Serkis just signed a seven-figure deal to reprise his role in a sequel to Rise of the Planet of the Apes. This means Fox is serious about moving forward with a sequel. Hopefully Serkis signed a pay-or-play deal so if nothing unfortunately happens, the man still walks away with seven-figures (or close to).
http://www.deadline.com/2011/11/andy...r/#more-190449
Originally Posted by Deadline Hollywood
EXCLUSIVE: When Rise of the Planet of the Apes‘s $453 million worldwide gross was listed as a bright spot in the quarterly earnings of beleaguered NewsCorp, you know a sequel is a big 20th Century Fox priority. So who did the studio lock in first? No, it wasn’t James Franco or Freida Pinto. The studio just closed what I’m told is a healthy seven-figure deal for Andy Serkis to reprise his role as lead ape Caesar. Serkis had only signed on for one movie, so his reps had leverage in ensuring that he come back to continue leading the ape takeover in multiple future installments of the series.
Director Rupert Wyatt’s original deal came with a sequel option, so he’s locked. So are screenwriters Rick Jaffa and Amanda Silver, who are producing with Chernin Entertainment’s Peter Chernin and Dylan Clark. The studio is still in the idea stage and the sequel hasn’t been dated for release. As for Franco and Pinto, those decisions will likely be made when the direction of the film crystallizes. The studio certainly has the leverage there; the clever construct of the first film ended with a wallop that makes everyone expendable.
In his quiet way, the chameleonic Serkis has proven to be a valuable commodity in three CG-driven franchises, and he’s being paid quite well for all of them. Serkis had no options for The Hobbit from The Lord of the Rings, and received a windfall payday to reprise his Gollum character in the two films. Serkis has wrapped his acting work on those films, but continues as Peter Jackson’s second unit director. Serkis does have an option deal for the sequel to the Steven Spielberg-directed The Adventures of Tin Tin, and will reprise as Captain Haddock in the sequel that Peter Jackson is scheduled to direct next year.
The big question is whether Fox should break ground and campaign for an Oscar for Serkis’s work in Rise of the Planet of the Apes. That notion was explored in the press when the film was released last summer. Serkis certainly lent a sense of humanity to Caesar and grounded the film. Academy voters haven’t yet paid much attention to actors behind CG performance capture creations, though. Serkis could have been nominated for his groundbreaking work in The Lord of the Rings, and was ignored. He’s repped by Lou Coulson in the UK and Principal Entertainment.
Director Rupert Wyatt’s original deal came with a sequel option, so he’s locked. So are screenwriters Rick Jaffa and Amanda Silver, who are producing with Chernin Entertainment’s Peter Chernin and Dylan Clark. The studio is still in the idea stage and the sequel hasn’t been dated for release. As for Franco and Pinto, those decisions will likely be made when the direction of the film crystallizes. The studio certainly has the leverage there; the clever construct of the first film ended with a wallop that makes everyone expendable.
In his quiet way, the chameleonic Serkis has proven to be a valuable commodity in three CG-driven franchises, and he’s being paid quite well for all of them. Serkis had no options for The Hobbit from The Lord of the Rings, and received a windfall payday to reprise his Gollum character in the two films. Serkis has wrapped his acting work on those films, but continues as Peter Jackson’s second unit director. Serkis does have an option deal for the sequel to the Steven Spielberg-directed The Adventures of Tin Tin, and will reprise as Captain Haddock in the sequel that Peter Jackson is scheduled to direct next year.
The big question is whether Fox should break ground and campaign for an Oscar for Serkis’s work in Rise of the Planet of the Apes. That notion was explored in the press when the film was released last summer. Serkis certainly lent a sense of humanity to Caesar and grounded the film. Academy voters haven’t yet paid much attention to actors behind CG performance capture creations, though. Serkis could have been nominated for his groundbreaking work in The Lord of the Rings, and was ignored. He’s repped by Lou Coulson in the UK and Principal Entertainment.
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re: Dawn of the Planet of the Apes (Reeves, 2014) S:Serkis, Oldman

I don't need to see any more of Franco. Signing Serkis was the right call. Hopefully they can crack a solid story. I'm still amazed Fox didn't fuck it up the first time.
#4
re: Dawn of the Planet of the Apes (Reeves, 2014) S:Serkis, Oldman
Great news. Glad Serkis and the crew will be back. The sequel most definitely doesn't need Franco or Pinto to move forward. I don't anticipate them returning.
Fox will also be having an Oscar campaign for Serkis for Supporting Actor.
Fox will also be having an Oscar campaign for Serkis for Supporting Actor.
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re: Dawn of the Planet of the Apes (Reeves, 2014) S:Serkis, Oldman
Serkis deserves every bit of his salary. He has got to be one of the most valuable, unseen actors in Hollywood. Big ups to him!
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re: Dawn of the Planet of the Apes (Reeves, 2014) S:Serkis, Oldman
True..but for the Prestige he was just an on screen actor, I also enjoyed his character a bit more cuz it was him.
in ROTK...who was he?
in ROTK...who was he?
#11
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re: Dawn of the Planet of the Apes (Reeves, 2014) S:Serkis, Oldman
This is definitely the right move. Serkis is definitely the key player in this franchise, and they need to keep him. Franco's character arc pretty much ran its course in the first one.
#14
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re: Dawn of the Planet of the Apes (Reeves, 2014) S:Serkis, Oldman
Cool that Jackson is letting Serkis stay on Hobbit as a second unit director, which I think is predominantly FX/action scene oriented.
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re: Dawn of the Planet of the Apes (Reeves, 2014) S:Serkis, Oldman
Agreed that Franco's not needed, and Serkis is - heck, he doesn't even (necessarily) have to be the same character - Roddy McDowell played several different characters in his APES run.
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re: Dawn of the Planet of the Apes (Reeves, 2014) S:Serkis, Oldman
...yeah..but what McDowell did most actors can do. What Serkis has made his own...is very special. The man is pretty damn good at what he does. Especially at being apes. LOVED seeing his acting as Kong in those features available.
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re: Dawn of the Planet of the Apes (Reeves, 2014) S:Serkis, Oldman
A little nugget from Collider's interview with Rothman:
I loved Rise of the Planet of the Apes. What’s the status of the sequel?
Rothman: That’s very much on the tracks. We’re developing a script. Rupert Wyatt, who directed the first one, will direct the second one. We’re pushing forward aggressively, so the script’s being written now.
Do you have an idea of a time frame you’d like to release it?
Rothman: Yeah, I think it would make sense if we can, you know we serve no wine before it’s time, but the goal for us would be summer of 2014, if that’s possible.
I loved Rise of the Planet of the Apes. What’s the status of the sequel?
Rothman: That’s very much on the tracks. We’re developing a script. Rupert Wyatt, who directed the first one, will direct the second one. We’re pushing forward aggressively, so the script’s being written now.
Do you have an idea of a time frame you’d like to release it?
Rothman: Yeah, I think it would make sense if we can, you know we serve no wine before it’s time, but the goal for us would be summer of 2014, if that’s possible.
#21
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re: Dawn of the Planet of the Apes (Reeves, 2014) S:Serkis, Oldman
Rewatched Rise last night. It's very good. Glad they were smart enough to bring back Serkis.
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re: Dawn of the Planet of the Apes (Reeves, 2014) S:Serkis, Oldman
I'm up for this. No interest in seeing the human leads from the last movie return, unless they are torn apart by apes in the first five minutes.