Digital Effects House Turns To Columbia Professor For "Rise Of The Apes"

Written By: Ken Hulsey
Source: Techeye

It seems that Peter Jackson’s effects studio is having fits trying to make realistic computer generated hair for the stars of Fox’s upcoming "Planet of the Apes" prequel "Rise of the Apes." In fact Weta Studios is having so much trouble trying to get it right that they have turned to Columbia University’s Eitan Grinspun, who created brand-new state of the art animation software for the Disney animated feature "Tangled", to work on two of their upcoming projects. The other being Steven Spielberg's "Tintin", where the title characters dog Snowy apparently needed a shampoo and a clip as well.

I would like to go into all the details of how Grinspun has used geometry and advanced mathematics to create a program that can simulate "real" human, or in this case, simian / canine, hair, but after reading the professor’s remarks about it, I have to admit, I know probably less now then when I started. That’s why he is a Columbia professor and I’m some dude behind a keyboard trying to write about it.

To sum it all up, the Apes were having a hair issues, Fox hired a genius to figure out how to fix it and now they will be ready to overthrow us human types in grand cinematic glory.

"Where there is fire, there is smoke. And in that smoke, from this day forward, my people will crouch, and conspire, and plot, and plan for the inevitable day of man's downfall, the day when he finally and self-destructively turns his weapons against his own kind. The day of the writing in the sky, when your cities lie buried under radioactive rubble! When the sea is a dead sea, and the land is a wasteland, out of which I will lead my people from their captivity! And we will build our own cities, in which there will be no place for humans, except to serve our ends! And we shall found our own armies, our own religion, our own dynasty! And that day is upon you...NOW!! "

See Also: The 100 Greatest Monsters From Movies And Television #21 - #30 / Harry Potter Star Felton Cast In RISE OF THE APES / Brian Cox To Be The Bad Guy In RISE OF THE APES / Andy Serkis To Play Caesar In RISE OF THE APES / James Franco Cast In The New PLANET OF THE APES film / Planet of the Apes: Caesar Set To Begin Production In July / Scott Frank Plans To Take Planet Of The Apes In A New Direction / 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)

Harry Potter Star Felton Cast In RISE OF THE APES

Written By: Ken Hulsey
Sources: Hollywood News / Backstage.com

With production set to begin any day now in Vancouver, the cast of the "Planet of the Apes" prequel, "Rise of the Apes", is starting to take shape.

On Wednesday veteran character actor Brian Cox joined the production and now Fox has announced that Tom Felton has been cast .

According to sources, Felton, who is best known for his role as Draco Malfoy in the "Harry Potter" film series, will play the son of Cox's evil primate sanctuary owner.

As reported in earlier articles, "Rise of the Apes" boasts a rather interesting cast including Freida Pinto, James Franco, John Lithgow and Andy Serkis, who will once again be used as a model for a CGI rendered character, Caesar, the leader of the apes uprising against humanity.

Based loosely on the 1972 movie "Conquest of the Planet of the Apes", "Rise" is a "prequel to the 'Planet of the Apes' movies, set in the present day, which tells the story of the genetic experiments that led to apes developing human-like intelligence, and the beginning of the end of the era of man."

“Rise of the Apes” is slated to be released in theaters on June 24, 2011.

See Also: Brian Cox To Be The Bad Guy In RISE OF THE APES / Andy Serkis To Play Caesar In RISE OF THE APES / James Franco Cast In The New PLANET OF THE APES film / Planet of the Apes: Caesar Set To Begin Production In July / Scott Frank Plans To Take Planet Of The Apes In A New Direction / 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)

Brian Cox To Be The Bad Guy In RISE OF THE APES

Written By: Ken Hulsey
Source: MTV

The cast for the upcoming "Planet of the Apes" reboot, "Rise of the Apes" is becoming wider in scope, and in depth, with the addition of veteran character actor Brian Cox (X2, The Bourne Identity) as the film's prime antagonist.

According to sources, Cox's character is, "the villainous owner of a primate sanctuary who runs the facility without compassion for the animals that live there."

You can bet dollars to donuts that it will this meanie who will play a major role in persuading Caesar to unite his brothers in a revolt to destroy mankind.

Filming on "Rise of the Apes" is set to begin filming any day now under the direction of Rupert Wyatt.

Cox joins an already talented cast that includes Freida Pinto, James Franco and John Lithgow.

Interestingly enough, "Conquest of the Planet of the Apes", which will serve as the inspiration for "Rise of the Apes", was filmed just down the street from my home at UC Irvine. The university stood in for the futuristic city where the apes were forced into slavery.

See Also: Andy Serkis To Play Caesar In RISE OF THE APES / James Franco Cast In The New PLANET OF THE APES film / Planet of the Apes: Caesar Set To Begin Production In July / Scott Frank Plans To Take Planet Of The Apes In A New Direction / 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)

Andy Serkis To Play Caesar In RISE OF THE APES

Written By: Ken Hulsey
Source: WENN

Actor Andy Serkis, who has the pleasure of playing both King Kong and Gollum, will now have the chance to play another of cinema's greatest simians, Caesar, from the "Planet of the Apes."

Indeed, the performer who has the uncanny ability to mimic animal movements, has been cast as the leader of an ape rebellion over mankind in 20th Century Fox's reboot of the popular "Apes" franchise entitled, "Rise of the Apes."

Though many news outlets are reporting that Serkis will be donning an ape costume and makeup similar to the kind made famous by John Chambers in the 1960s and 70s, it is safe to assume from the reports that have surfaced that the actor will once again be used as a model for a CGI character.

Of course, the fact that Peter Jackson's effects house, WETA Digital, has been hired to work on the film's effects probably is a dead giveaway here.

Not much is known about the film as of yet, but early reports stated that the film would center around the genetic engineering of apes to be used as slaves for mankind, similar to the plot of "Conquest of the Planet of the Apes". As can be expected, these intelligent primates soon get sick of being treated like animals and join forces to turn the tables on us human types.

"Rise of the Apes" is set to begin filming next month in San Francisco under the direction of Rupert Wyatt. Other cast members include Slumdog Millionaire star Freida Pinto, James Franco and John Lithgow.

See Also: James Franco Cast In The New PLANET OF THE APES film / Planet of the Apes: Caesar Set To Begin Production In July / Scott Frank Plans To Take Planet Of The Apes In A New Direction / 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)