Andy Serkis is Lead Ape in ‘Rise of the Apes’

by Jeff Leins

Andy Serkis has been cast as the lead ape in Rise of the Apes, also known as the prequel to Planet of the Apes.

We’ve known for a while that WETA, the special effects company of Peter Jackson, was creating CGI apes (rather than the practical, men-in-suit work of the previous versions), but everyone seemed to drop the ball on predicting Serkis for the motion capture suit.  He provided the movements for both Gollum in the Lord of the Rings trilogy and King Kong in Jackson’s 2005 remake, which means he already has experience with lumbering and knuckle-dragging on set.

Serkis will play Caesar, an ape that develops intelligence after a scientist (played by James Franco) performs genetic experiments on him in an attempt to cure Alzheimer’s Disease.  Once Caeser evolves he leads an uprising against the human population.  Those damned dirty apes!

Freida Pinto is playing a primatologist working with Franco’s character and John Lithgow is set to play Franco’s ailing father.  Marky Mark will not be making an appearance.

Rise of the Apes is expected to be released June 24, 2011.