Brian Cox Joins Cast of Rise of the Apes

Brian Cox is in final negotiations to join the cast of the Planet of the Apes prequel, Rise of the Apes, according to The Wrap.

Cox will play the owner of a primate sanctuary who has no compassion for the animals he houses. After the uprising begins, he is the first human to feel the wrath of his former captives.

This film reunites Cox with director Rupert Wyatt, who had worked with before on 2008’s The Escapist.  Cox joins a cast that includes Frames Franco as a scientist bent on finding the cure for Alzheimers through genetic experiments on apes.  Frieda Pinto plays a primatologist helping Franco in his search for the cure. John Lithgow is Franco’s father who has Alzheimer’s. Andy Serkis will be portraying Caesar (with the help of WETA Digital), an ape who evolves unexpectedly and leads the apes into revolt.

Rise of the Apes is scheduled for release June 24, 2011.