While we still wait for DAWN OF THE PLANET OF THE APES to land in theaters later this year, 20th Century Fox is looking towards the future of the franchise as they have locked down Matt Reeves, who is directing DAWN, for the third installment. I was always a big fan of the decision to bring Reeves in for the second film and what we've seen so far is certainly pointing towards another solid entry in the franchise. It'll be interesting to see how he continues the story beyond DAWN.
This time, he will write the script with Mark Bomback, one of the writers who scripted the sequel. Amanda Silver and Rick Jaffa were the scribes who resurrected the franchise with RISE OF THE PLANET OF THE APES, the Ruper Wyatt-directed film that grossed $482 million worldwide in 2011. The directing deal is done and the writer deals are being worked out right now. It is likely that Reeves will go right into the third film, a priority for the studio, reports Deadline.
A growing nation of genetically evolved apes led by Caesar is threatened by a band of human survivors of the devastating virus unleashed a decade earlier. They reach a fragile peace, but it proves short-lived, as both sides are brought to the brink of a war that will determine who will emerge as Earth’s dominant species.
CLOVERFIELD's Matt Reeves directs with Andy Serkis, Keri Russell, Gary Oldman, Jason Clarke, Kodi Smit-McPhee, Judy Greer, and Jocko Sims starring. APES will hit theaters on Jully 11th, 2014.