Kodi-Smit-McPheeFollowing last week’s news that Jason Clarke has boarded Dawn of the Planet of the Apes, the sequel’s second new addition to the cast has been announced in the form of Kodi Smit-McPhee (Let Me In, ParaNorman).

Little is known about the sequel, and it naturally has our interest piqued.

The original film, Rise of the Planet of the Apes, was a big success for Fox, taking almost $500m. for the studio back in 2011. They’ve currently got the second film in the franchise set for an early Summer 2014 release date, and production is expected to get underway very soon. And that means we should be able to look forward to more casting news soon.

When we heard last week that Clarke had signed on for the project, we also heard that the film is set fifteen years after the events of the original film. Dawn of the Planet of the Apes’ plot synopsis remains under wraps for now, but we do know this:

“One focus is on the group of human scientists who are struggling to survive alone in San Francisco. Another aspect of the story is the struggle of intelligent ape Caesar, played by a returning Andy Serkis, to maintain dominance over his kingdom.”

Matt Reeves (Cloverfield) has taken over the helm in place of Rupert Wyatt, directing from a script by Mark Bomback (The Wolverine). And producing the film will be Peter Chernin, Dylan Clarke, Amanda Silver, and Rick Jaffa.

Andy Serkis will be reprising his very well-received role as Caesar, whilst the rest of the original is not expected to return.

Like Clarke’s, the role which Smit-McPhee has taken is also being kept a secret for now. But it’s nice to see that the sequel is looking to rising talents, which will in turn no doubt help boost their recognition in the years to come.

Also like Clarke, Smit-McPhee has been deservedly on the rise in recent years. He made a name for himself opposite Chloë Grace Moretz in 2010’s Let Me In, and most recently lent his voice to one of last year’s most popular animated movies, ParaNorman.

Smit-McPhee is currently filming Jake Paltrow’s highly anticipated The Young Ones, alongside Nicholas Hoult, Elle Fanning, and Michael Shannon. And we can’t wait to see how that one turns out. This will then most likely follow on his slate, with production expected to get underway in the spring.

Dawn of the Planet of the Apes is set for a 23rd May, 2014 release date, and we’re very much looking forward to seeing how it all unfolds. More as we get it.

 

Source: Deadline.