Scott Frank Plans To Take Planet Of The Apes In A New Direction

Written By: Ken Hulsey
Sources: io9.com / CHUD.com / Avery Guerra

Early last month I reported that Fox was thinking about re-launching the "Planet of the Apes" movie franchise. Well today there was confirmation that indeed a brand-new "Apes" film is in the early stages of development.

Scott Frank has been signed on to direct "Caesar", (Not "Genesis: Apes" as previously believed) a film that starts off the whole "Simians ruling the Earth" story from the beginning. Frank wants fans to know that his film will NOT be a remake of the 1972 movie "Conquest of the Planet of the Apes." Although the result may end up the same, the means will be very different.

"Caesar" will follow the story of a hyper-intelligent chimpanzee who is created through genetic engineering. The director is dedicated in creating a character who the audience will be able to really feel for, although his final actions will be hard for us humans to swallow.

Frank has also stated that he wants to steer away from the man-in-the-suite style and make-up that was created by John Chambers for the original "Planet of the Apes" films. Presently the director is playing with the idea of using CGI to create a "photoreal chimpanzee" (one who is facially modified by the genetic engineering that grants him his intelligence).

Also don't expect the title character to talk.

Presently Frank is working on a re-write of the script, which he hopes will be grounded in character and science, yet have a very real feel.

See Also: 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)