Planet of the Apes: There's been two confirmations today that'll get fans going ape. First up is the new teaser trailer which aired at the NY Toy Fair the other day. The good news is that FOX has sent out official papers to various exhibitors saying it will be delivered next week and will begin appearing next Friday (March 2nd) in theatres (expect it to hit the Net very shortly after). This Friday however begins displays of a new 7ft standee which you can see a picture of on the right. Thanks to 'Theatrenazi', 'ApesAlive' & 'Captain Roz'

(Webmaster Note: The standee recently sold on eBay for $100.)

February 20, 2000

Well, the official site for the remake hasn't shown up yet, but we can tell you how to get there. Just go to www.planetoftheapes.com, of course. Previously, this URL was owned by someone who purchased it for their own use. Now, it redirects you to the Fox Movies main site. As of this date, Planet of the Apes still isn't even listed as "coming soon," but we hope that with the first teaser poster already in theaters and the teaser trailer already having been screened at the Toy Fair (and hopefully on it's way to theaters soon), it won't be much longer before POTA is added to the site.

On a similar note, while browsing through the Fox Home Video website, we noticed that Planet of the Apes is conspicuously absent from their archives of promotional websites. This is very odd, considering that they just released the DVD set mere months ago and their archive contains sites that are much, MUCH older. We can only presume that this was done to eliminate confusion between the original series and the new film. Sounds like a missed opportunity for cross-promotion to us.

February 19, 2001 (from Coming Attractions)

We continue our killer Planet of the Apes coverage today by debuting another huge scoop: images taken from some sort of Apes promotional publication! Thanks to the efforts of our amazing scooper, 'Saigon Jinn', we now have your first looks at Mark Wahlberg, Estella Warren, Tim Roth, Paul Giamatti, close-ups of Michael Clarke Duncan and Helena Bonham Carter in their ape makeup, conceptual sketches of various characters and scenes, and action shots of actors participating in ape school!

There's nineteen amazing images to show you, so let's just dive straight in and work our way through them, shall we?

Webmaster Note: Click on the above link or on the photo to go to Coming Attractions. These photos all but eliminate fears that rose up from the photos that appeared on American Mule (see previous story). They all look terrific, except for Helena Bonham Carter's make-up, which looks even worse than what was shown on American Mule. And what's up with that mop-top hairstyle? Despite this, we are now DYING to see the trailer!

February 16, 2001 (from Dark Horizons)

Upcoming Trailers and Posters: 'TheatreNazi' has been with DH for a while and helped out a lot with that recent "Planet of the Apes" poster scoop very late last year. Now comes an update from him that should make some people's mouths water:

"The new Planet of the Apes 1-sheet is supposed to be out next week after President's Day. Also, I've gotten word the teaser 1-sheet for Lord of the Rings will be out be the end of March from the letter that was with the LOTR calendar (very nice) sent out to movie theatres. Finally, I received a trailer request form from Sony for trailer placement of upcoming movies. Listed under Final Fantasy, they have Spiderman (tsr-attached), The One (enclosed), Ghost of Mars (enclosed)."

February 13, 2001 (From Ain't It Cool News)

PLANET OF THE APES trailer and New York Gala unveiled

Hey folks, Harry here with a couple reports that have come in from a New York City big Ape Spectacular. Our first report is a bit vague but well, the second linked review of the evening is still more complete (Webmaster Note: We have the full report below). Sounds like some cool stuff went down... If only I had stayed an extra day. Sigh....

Hey Harry,

I surprised not to see anything on the Planet of the Apes (POTA) teaser at the Toy Fair yesterday (Sunday). You may not have gotten them posted, but in case no ones posted...here goes.

There was a screening of the Planet of the Apes teaser at the Toy Fair in NYC yesterday. It was held at the Hammerstein Ballroom (where the night before the post-party for V-Day was held. Parties for vaginas to parties for apes. Gotta love New York.).

At the check-in booth, everyone was given a necklace w/ some abstract ape on the front. So far, no one I've showed it to since has been able to figure out what it is. After checking in you had to wait to take (one of the two) elevators to the 7th floor. I only mention this because that Famka chick from X-Men cut in front of everyone.

Once upstairs you walked through this corrider of waiters in black t-shirts. I'm assuming these were the actors who couldn't get hired as Power Rangers for the Fair. Also, I think was a way to keep everyone away from the bar. The place was crowded when we got there, but we were still able to get seats up front (although on the side).

The place was decorated w/ a bunch of large posters on scaffolding.

A bunch of Fox guys spoke. If I had been the Marketing Guy who used every bad ape pun in the world, I would have said "Foxy" guys...however, I'm not so I won't.

First off was the aforemention Punster. Then the Head of Fox spoke. Neither had much to say, except for all this hype crap: Gonna Rule the Planet, blah, blah... One even said that POTA was the most successful Sci-Fi franchise in history. I guess a little thing like Stars Wars (which is also Fox) slipped his mind (or Star Trek, even). They did say that this one is different: Not planet earth and therefore, no Statue of Liberty.

Then the make-up guy spoke (who's name is TOTALLY slipping my mind & I don't have time to go look it up. Sorry, I know I'm gonna get slammed for that.) (Webmaster Note: he's right, and referring to one of the masters of filmmaking, Rick Baker). He was the only who was actually entertaining. He said that "POTA was the reason he was put on this planet." They did mention that he would be demonstrating the make-up at the Hasbro showroom today.

Finally, they showed the teaser. Let me say, overall it was pretty exciting. Darker looking than the first, but all this is to be expected (i.e. Tim Burton). It starts w/ Mark Walhberg escaping from (I'm assuming) a space capsul underwater. It seemed like a lot of the early stuff is in a Yoda-esqe jungle. RULE. You get desert stuff. THE. Various apes. PLANET. That kinda thing. It was a teaser, so all pretty fast cuts flying at you. And the apes fly/leap a lot.

There did seem to be some weird flirting going on by Helena Bonham Carter. I wouldn't be surprised if she & Steve Austin got it on (i.e. Tim Burton). Although, she was the only ape that didn't look good. She looks like Shirley MacLaine in Madame Sousatzka. Not a good sign. And the human girl, who talks this time, looks like some surfer chick.

As far as plot, it seemed like it was fairly similar. Crashes, meets the humans, gets captured, meets the doctor, who helps him escape and although then he leads some sort of human revolt.

I don't know if this making any sense. It was pretty fast. Later they showed some "Dailies," which was basically a rough trailer. So, I may be combining the two.

Overall, I'd relunctly say I'm still psyched. Maybe my hopes were too high? The thing is: I like Tim Burton, but always wish he was a better storyteller. I feel like his visuals are oftentimes replacements for plot. I'm hoping that won't be the case here. I loved the original (I even had the board game as a kid) and I think it's a great story.

Also, Mark Walhberg spoke, looking good in a buzzcut. Said that his only fear (even post Boogie Nights) was filling Charlton Heston's loincloth.

The topper of the night were the parade of apes. They looked great, but it was a little silly. They came marching out like the Winkies from Wizard of Oz. One even jumped from the balcony (w/ a little help from some wires). Then mixed it up w/ the audience (at least the ones on the aisle, which I wasn't). They kept it pretty dark, but I still think they were pretty impressive.

Sorry, if I'm rushing here. I'm late to meet friends for Hannibal (See, not everyone saw it this weekend).

Like I said, I'm still psyched. It should be huge. Let's just hope it's also good. I'll be clutching my lil' monkey pendant, looking forward to July 27 - unless you (or one of your minions) tell me before hand that it sucks.

(Webmaster Note: For even more on the Toy Fair, see below and our News page.)

February 13, 2001 (from Home Theater Forum)

Planet Of The Apes - Special Report

I am having so much fun! Another terrific weekend!

To this day, Planet of the Apes remains my all-time favorite science fiction movie. As a child, I was mesmerized by the Ape characters and makeup. As an adult, I was intriqued by the fact that APES actually had a deep dark message about war, at a time Americans were fighting in Vietnam.

Thirty Two years later, Fox is finally bringing an updated version of Planet of The Apes to the screen. Under the direction of Tim Burton, this movie is THE most anticipated movie of the Summer. And, like the original, this movie also promises a moral message to leave the theater with.

Hype is already beginning.

I was absolutely elated to receive an invitation from Fox to attend a special Merchandising event in New York City this weekend. The invitation I received promised that I would have the opportunity to see "first look at special footage". Other than that, I had no idea what to expect out of this event, and I went in without any huge expectations.

I arrived at the Manhattan Center, and was given a silver APES necklace as my admittance. With hundreds of people in tow, we all climbed the stairs to the uppermost floor of the building, where we were led into a large ballroom. The sounds of thumping were heard as soundtrack music from the new film were playing out of giant speakers hanging above the ballroom floor. Huge rectangular metal structures surrounded us, holding giant banners of Ape characters from the new movie. We were in for a party!

We were all handed press kits (which you see a picture of above). The picture on the cover is the very first of many character teaser posters that Fox is now putting in theaters across the nation. The PLANET OF THE APES logo remains basically the same, as it sits against the swirling design of an Ape Warrior's helmet.

At about 5:30, the presentation began. We first heard from a few Fox representatives that headed up licensing and marketing for the studio. With the help of an overhead slideshow, they mapped out the extensive advertising campaign that Fox will be unleashing shortly. This will actually be the largest advertising campaign that Fox has done for ANY movie in their history. In addition to magazine articles, there will be behind-the-scenes documentaries appearing on HBO in the upcoming months. This month, from what I understand, VANITY FAIR magazine has a large picture layout taken from the set of the film.

It's amazing that over the years, Fox has received more requests for a PLANET OF THE APES remake than any other film. Fox had been planning to do this film for years, and could have done it at any time. It was explained to us, however, that the studio wanted the project done right. They wanted the right script, the right actors, and the right Director.

Everything seemed to come together for Fox at the right time. A remarkable script was completed by William Broyles Jr., who wrote CASTAWAY. Then, Hollywood's most impressingly creative talent, TIM BURTON (Batman, Sleepy Hollow, Nightmare Before Christmas) came aboard to Direct the project. The icing on the cake came when rennowned make-up artist, Rick Baker (Greystoke, An American Werewolf in London, Nutty Professor) agreed to do the ape makeup. Joining Mr. Burton once again, is composer Danny Elfman, doing the movie score.

PLANET OF THE APES began principal photography on November 6, and will wrap in April, 2001. The film is shooting in Trona Pinnacles in Ridgecrest California, an alien-like landscape of dry lakebeds; the jungles and lava fields of Hawaii; and in Lake Powell, Arizona.

Tim's choice to take on the lead role was Mark Wahlberg (Boogie Nights, Three Kings) who plays Leo, a young pilot who finds himself in a world turned upside down, after landing on a strange planet. Joining the cast is Tim Roth, (Pulp Fiction) as Thade, the powerful General of the ape army; Helena Bonham Carter (Fight Club) as Ari, a chimpanzee and "human rights" activist who aids Leo; Michael Clarke Duncan (The Green Mile) as Attar, the most feared warrior in Thade's army.

PLANET OF THE APES is NOT a remake of the original movie. It does NOT take place on Earth, and there is NO Statue of Liberty. The film, however, has a very big surprise at the end (which a friend of mine ruined for me already). I think it will add an interesting twist to an already twisted story.

The first surprise guest of the evening is announced. Imagine my shock to hear it is none other than Rick Baker, the master of movie makeup. Out comes an elderly and handsome man, with long silver hair tied back in a pony-tail. Though fighting the flu, Rick was kind enough to come all the way out to NY to address the crowd.

Rick briefly talks about his meeting with Tim Burton. The story goes that Rick had just completed NUTTY PROFESSOR II. He wanted to take a year off, away from film, and spend time with his family. About 1-2 months into his hiatus, Rick receives a phone call at home from Tim Burton. Tim tells Rick that he is Directing the upcoming new PLANET OF THE APES movie, and wants Rick to do the makeup. Although Rick wanted to take the year off, he did not hesitate to come aboard. According to Rick Baker, "I was born to do PLANET OF THE APES." He now spends his time on the set making up hundreds of Apes. The actors and actresses sit an average of 5 or 6 hours getting into makeup. The makeup is so complex, that food is eaten through a straw.

Back at the party....

It was time for us to view the very first trailer to be released. Mind you, this was a very exciting moment because we were actually the FIRST audience to have this trailer shown to. I only remember bits and pieces of what I am about to tell you of this trailer, as there was just so many quick cuts of scenes shown with characters and events I was unfamiliar with.

The lights go dark. The MPAA preview bar appears. Blackness. Static appears on the screen. A female Mayday distress call is heard. The Fox logo appears... BAM! Mark Wahlberg is in the water rising to the surface. We see a desert planet with the familiar scarecrows. We see Wahlberg captured, being taken in a caged wagon to Ape City. A tribal council of talking apes is seen. Wahlberg is confused as to where he is -- has choker collar around his neck. Sunset over a desert city with what appears to be teepee-like houses. A band of Ape soldiers with heavy armor and headgear raising their staffs as they go into battle. We see Wahlberg racing through a thick jungle with what appears to be a band of rebel apes. He makes a comment about the "hostile" planet he has landed on.

Lights go up -- applause.

The second surprise guest was even more shocking than the first. The crowd went wild as lead actor, Mark Wahlberg took stage. Mark had just flown in from the West Coast, where just the day before, he was filming the movie.

Mark recalls his first meeting with Tim Burton. Mark tells Burton that he would do ANYTHING asked for the role -- except that he did not want to wear a loin-cloth like Charlton Heston did. Jokingly, Mark Wahlberg exclaims that he's a lot different than his fictional "Dirk Diggler" character.

Mark also tells us that he gets up everyday at 5am to drive out to the set, knowing that day he is going to get his ass-kicked by some 500lb. Gorilla. Yet, he smiles and says that it is all worth it.

We once again have the opportunity to see more EXCLUSIVE first-time footage from the upcoming PLANET OF THE APES. We are told that what we are about to see is a collection of "dailies" shot from the week before. We were warned that it was rough cuts and that the sound was not complete. Imagine our surprise when we saw a quite polished 4-minute collection of scenes from the movie. Most of the scenes are extended shots taken from the trailer. There is one scene in the jungle where he flees with a band of rebel Apes. Wahlenberg cockily refers to the APES as monkees, to which an accompanying Ape takes offense and leaps on him demanding an apology.

My personal thoughts on what I had seen....

This film looks tremendous. Burton was the absolute right choice for Directing this film. His sets look eerie and breathtaking. The ape makeup looks fantastic. Facial makeup is more pronounced than the original Apes makeup allowing more natural facial expressions to come through. In fact, the apes look more human in this movie as there aren't layers of makeup. Noses are more pronounced as are the cheeks and lips.

I am also confused about the humans in this movie. They talk. I am uncertain whether these humans came to the planet with Wahlberg, or they are native.

I was with two friends who were huge fans of the original APES series. All three of us agreed that this film looks to live up to expectations.

The party ended with an "assault" of apes. With strobe-lights flashing, fully costumed APES came from the stage and some even flew from the balcony. The makeup and costumes were extremely impressive.

Make no mistake about it, Fox is proclaiming this movie as the EVENT of the new millenium, and they have poured a huge amount of money into not only the film, but the promotion of it. In the upcoming months you are going to be seeing a lot of APES in magazines, on the official website, and in cable featurettes. Let us not forget the multiple trailers that will be showing in theaters over the next 5 months. The first trailer may only be a teaser, but it does show enough to get your blood pumping.

Apes Rule The Planet on July 27, 2001.

February 13, 2001 (from About.com Movies)

Planet of the Apes Remake Scoop

While doing interviews for his latest film, See Spot Run, Michael Clarke Duncan revealed some details of this Summer's Planet of the Apes remake. Tim Burton directs Mark Wahlberg and Kris Kristofferson as humans and Duncan as the ape warrior Attar.

"It's a lot different [than the original]," Duncan said. "It's not a spin-off. It's totally different because in the original Planet of the Apes they had a lot of guns. We don't have any guns. We have really foreign weapons like clubs and stuff of that nature."

Duncan went on to describe two of the action scenes in which he performed.

"I have a fight with Kris and he's running at me with a lit spear," Duncan explained. "Before we do it I say, 'Now, I'm gonna go right. You go right so we'll go like this." Duncan demonstrated missing each other. "I said, 'Don't you go left when I go right because we'll run right into each other. At a couple of feet veer and then the camera will come close on me.' But Kris got extremely close with that lit spear and at the last second I just kind of went back and slid. I wiped his feet right out from under him. That was right before I did my ankle.

"I was injured doing a leap that I knew I could do," Duncan recalled. "It's where Attar, my character, sees something, comes down, runs and leaps these three steps. I did it 15 times before lunch, but this was after lunch. Tim [Burton] was like, 'Okay, we're gonna start from that scene again' and I'm like, 'Uh, the leap scene?' He said, 'Yeah, I've got some more ideas.' So, I'm telling myself, 'Come on, you're not tired, you're not tired.' So we did it five more times and I told him, 'You know what? This is my last one. I'm not leaping like I was.' I didn't have the power I did before lunch. So he said, 'Okay, give me one more and we'll move to something else.' So I ran, did this one more, and my left heel caught the last step and I rolled it. It was a bad sprain. I tore a couple of ligaments on my foot and it really hurt. I just thought, 'Man, this is so clumsy of me.' The hard part was going to the emergency room in the makeup. That was silly. The minute I got wheeled in, in all my ape armor and my big paw feet up, I said, 'Do you guys remember The Green Mile? That's me.'"

After Apes, Duncan will costar in The Scorpion King, a spinoff of The Rock's character in The Mummy Returns.

"I'm excited, but you have to be a little bit intimidated because The Rock is this icon from the WWF and he has the type of face that no matter where he goes, he will be more recognizable than I think most actors in Hollywood. I told him, 'Look, I don't try to become a wrestler. Don't think you're gonna make a career and springboard off of me. This is my domain.' But I'm really happy to work with him because he's a real good friend of mine."

February 9, 2001 (from Dark Horizons)

Planet of the Apes: The latest issue of Vanity Fair has some Apes-related shots and MovieHeadlines posted some of them up - click the thumbnail to check 'em out. Thanks to 'Scott' & JPM

Planet of the Apes (Scoop #2): While I can't include them I can say I scored a look at some storyboards today and three scenes can be made out. One great scene has a whole row of gorillas chucking flaming projectiles and bolos (those ropes with heavy balls on the end) but the left arms have elongated 'curved launchers' on them. The second has Leo (Wahlberg), humans and some apes on a cliff looking down on a beach filled with tents when a gorilla guard hears them. The third scene has Leo and the water-averse Ari (Carter) heading out into the surf as he tells her "I won't let go of you". Thanks to 'Tickle Me Orangutang'

February 5, 2001 (From Cinescape Online)

Burton Talks 'Apes'

Tim Burton is explaining how his Planet of the Apes is not a true remake of the classic '60s film. While talking to the Calgary Sun, Burton spoke of the currently in production project, saying, "We're trying to be completely respectful of the original, but we've added new characters and new story elements. You could say we are keeping the essence of the original, but inhabiting that world in a different way."

Burton also speaks of Tim Roth's character in the film, the chimpanzee General Thade, revealing that he is "definitely the villain of the piece. And a really clear-cut villain."

February 5, 2001 (from Dark Horizons)

Planet of the Apes: The latest Film Four guide in the UK had an interview with Helena Bonham Carter during which she was asked about her role as an 'Ape Princess': "I'm not actually an ape princess anymore - they demoted me. I'm not even allowed to keep the crown. But it's great to be an ape anyway - it's very liberating. You could get away with murder, literally do anything 'cos no-one knows who you are - you could be anyone under there. It's tempting to go off and rob a bank or something. You spend so much time in make-up that you start to think about these things". So what sort of things has she been involved in: "It's been fantastic. The other night I was having fireballs thrown at me. I was in the water as a drowning chimp and then Tim says 'OK, we're gonna throw fireballs at you now!' So it's stuff like that. And Tim just has this mad energy - hair and limbs flying everywhere. It's hilarious, sitting about on the set watching little groups of extras walk past practising their ape-walk and knowing they're on their way back from [ape] school". Thanks to 'Jamie'

February 2, 2001 (From Ain't It Cool News)

Wanna see a couple of Pics from PLANET OF THE APES that just RULE?

Hey folks, Harry here with a pair of gorgeous shots from PLANET OF THE APES... I think this first shot of Mark is excellent. I really dig the look of it, but more so the last shot which purports to be Michael Clark Duncan... Well, I've seen similar shots, but I have not seen the lower part of this picture... the chest piece before. I like this more subdued less garishly colored stuff. Really dynamic and creepy. Check out the third pic at the link below! Enjoy and thanks to our friends in Brazil for letting the rest of the world in on their excellent scoop!

Hi Harry:

Remember our Tomb Raider exclusive pics at SetOnline.Com.Br ? Now we have three greats pics from Tim Burton's PLANET OF THE APES. I never seen anywhere the Mark Wahberg piece. It's the coolest thing. We have two more pics in high-resolution: one showing Michael Clarke Duncan fully in make-up and another one that i've never seen showing Tim Burton directing Wahlberg.

All the three pics are OFFICIAL. SET ONLINE is the virtual counterpart of portuguese-language magazine SET, published in Brasil.

Click Here to see them.

I think You will like it a lot and I hope they are really news to you.

Thanx again

Rodrigo

January 30, 2001 (From Ain't It Cool News)

AMERICAN MULE And COMING ATTRACTIONS Roll Out More PLANET OF THE APES Photos!!

Hey, everyone. "Moriarty" here with some Rumblings From The Lab.

Got a letter today from SCOOPY-DOO, the same guy who's been notifying me each time AMERICAN MULE has put up a batch of PLANET OF THE APES photos. I like the makeup we're seeing, even if I'm not sold on the costumes. Bottom line, though, is that these photos haven't been enough to judge. I pray that this stands as a testament to what Rick Baker does best. It would be fitting...

Yo Moriarty -

Thought you guys might be interested in the latest POTA update:

CHECK IT OUT HERE!!

They put up the one-sheet from the movie, which has a basic plot outline (without giving too much away) and details the characters. You may have already seen it, so you know it looks pretty damn cool.

It's not really a one-sheet so much as it looks like something prepared for potential licensing partners. Interesting stuff on there. Pretty much confirms everything we've heard so far. Nice character to actor comparisons, too.

So as soon as I get this story up, COMING ATTRACTIONS runs an APES story that's full of details and images that you've also gotta check out. The more I hear, the more I'm interested. Good work being done by various spies on this film, and you owe it to yourself to follow all the links and see what's out there if you're interested at all. It's pretty cool...

"Moriarty" out.

January 30, 2001 (from Coming Attractions)

(Webmaster Note: We only posted the first bit of this piece. For the full story with accompanying images, follow the link above to Coming Attractions.)

Okay. Go get a cup of coffee, because this next report is with a great largeness and should be treated with the appropriate amount of caffeine necessary. JangoFett24 is back with a report from the set of this film, and has delivered with a vengeance. So Jango has the conch, everyone, we'll just punctuate the excitement of his report with questions to let you know what's coming. And we'll make swipable anything we consider to be SPOILERS. Because there are some.

When can we expect the first trailer, you ask?

"Was eating lunch one day in the catering tent when guess who sits down next to me? Dick Zanuck!! I asked him when we would see the first trailer and he said officially: President's Day. By the way, nice guy."

How's the movie stacking up?

"Look for MAJOR action in it...look for alot of fading in and out shots of BAD ASS action...the chimpanzee warriors of the red ape army galloping in a quadripedal position through a misty jungle, and a lot more action beats."

How's the makeup?

"I have PERSONALLY seen the FINAL makeup for Thade, a chimpanzee general, from about 8 inches away from MY FACE and let me just say, ANYONE who says ANYTHING about these makeup jobs in a negative context should be force fed Ape crap, because the sheer amazement and nuclear kick-assness of this stuff is BEYOND ANYTHING YOU HAVE EVER EVER SEEN!!!! They gave Thade a REALLY fiercesome visage. His nose looks sort of like Dracula's Bat and wolf form crossed from Coppola's show. VERY scary. You can LITERALLY NOT TELL THE DIFFERENCE between this makeup and real flesh, even from inches away. It is just REAL. Thade has big fangs, I believe contacts and a bad ass slicked back longer hair in black with traditional brown and greyish color scheme. Just beyond imagination. He has an elongated black helmet with a matching black and grey color scheme.

"His chest plate has a SWEET carving of two golden demonic monkeys at opposing angles. REALLY freaky. He rides a horse fitted with kick ass full armour. The head piece has a small spike rising from the head, with sectioned plating down the back. Oh, by the way, be prepared to see chimpanzee soldiers galloping at 45 miles an hour in battle--They will be passing EVEN the horses as they charge into war as the cavalry."

January 26, 2001 (from Coming Attractions)

Movie Headlines.net has posted the National Enquirer page showing Helena Bonham Carter with and without her ape makeup. Follow the link to see the monkey. [Scott Chitwood dropped us a line, and so did 'The Deadly Cherub'.]

January 24, 2001 (from Coming Attractions)

Over these past few weeks on the Internet, we've seen the release of the look of the simians from Planet of the Apes. First it was through ape make-up test stills posted online by American Mule, followed by England tabloid The Sun publishing a shot of Helena Bonham Carter in her ape princess makeup. We've also received a report that the Carter makeup photo appears in this week's National Enquirer.

With the look of the apes at least partially unveiled, the ball was in Fox's court on how to release the first officially sanctioned look at one of these guys. That came this past weekend when the Sunday "Calendar" section of the Los Angeles Times newspaper ran one of its previews of the year's upcoming releases...and in it was this look of a gorilla from Tim Burton's Planet of the Apes (right).

As the previous Mule photos first showed, Rick Baker's design of the apes deviates very minorly from the look design by John Chambers for the original film. In fact, this photo may have been the sitll used to create the teaser poster we first saw last year. The look of the gorilla and the gorilla's helmet fit the design seen in the poster almost perfectly.

January 24, 2001 (From Ain't It Cool News)

AICN's 8000th Story!!! Official Plot for PLANET OF THE APES Revealed!!!

Hey folks, Harry here.... 8000 stories.... MAAAAAN.... That's alot. I guess for the 8000th one, it had better be pretty cool, so I guess this is... 20th Century Fox's Belgium department went and dropped the ball on the plotline to Tim Burton's PLANET OF THE APES. It was in Flemish, but lucky for us, our spies know spies that know Flemish! Otherwise, you would really be up a creek paddle-less... Well, here's to the next 8000 stories! Here ya go....

Harry, didn't see this on your site. It's pretty cool I guess, but I would have rather had them follow the original film's storyline, rather than the original novel's. I like the idea that there's a big twist in the end though, although it can't be the Statue of Liberty because it was confirmed the story doesn't take place on Earth.

The following can be considered an "official" plot summary of POTA. It comes directly from 20th Century Fox...though in a roundabout way. It was posted on their Fox Belgium site in Flemish. Fortunately, I know someone who speaks Flemish...so here's a translation

The year: 2029. The place: distant space. The situation: On board the space station OBERON interstellar exploration-missions are assigned to chimpanzees that have been trained by human astronauts.

After receiving an alien signal from outer space, the chimp PERICLES is sent out in a high-tech exploration-vessel. As he's heading towards the destination, suddenly he loses all contact to the space station and disappears from its radars.

The fearless [note from translator: yeah, that's the style this is written in ] astronaut LEO DAVIDSON ignores his commander's orders and boards another one-man exploration-vessel to save PERICLES.

This vessel, too, starts to have troubles, but before he knows it, LEO's survival-equipment goes out and he loses consciousness.

When he finally comes to, his vessel is scraping against the tree tops of jungle-like woods before it crashes into the mud. The second he's finally found ground under his feet, LEO is almost run over by a herd [they're like animals, right?] of scared, primitive humans.

He only manages to notice the tattoos on their faces, before he gets captured along with the humans by barbaric, speaking apes, who rule over the human race on this planet.

After a daring escape, LEO gathers a group of rebellious humans and willing apes to look for the OBERON, in the hope to be saved. He makes a great impression on both the apes and humans in his group and wins their trust.

Strengthened by the knowledge that humans and apes can live together as equals [aaaaaaaw!], LEO & Co. fight against an establishment of systematic misinformation and against a merciless group of war-hungry apes who're on their pursuit.

Confronted with this upside-down world, LEO's heart, conscience and military training lead him to organize a great human rebellion, demanding full freedom for the human race. While LEO's organizing his strategies for the impending war, he makes a very important and shocking discovery that changes his insight into this world completely, and immediately increases his personal importance in the battle even further.

Sir Schreck

January 23, 2001 (from the Internet Movie Database)

Michael Clarke Duncan's Hospital Embarrassment

Movie star Michael Clarke Duncan was left embarrassed during a recent hospital trip, after spraining his ankle on the set of Planet of the Apes (2001) - because he didn't have time to take off his gorilla make-up. The hulking 6 ft. 5 in. actor is currently recovering from the on-set injury, and he says he'll never forget his trip to the hospital. He says, "I caught my heel and went down like a five-ton elephant, but that wasn't the worst part. The worst part was that I had to go to the emergency room with my make-up on - full armour and everything. There were like 25 people in there, and they all turned around and looked at me like, `What? They got a gorilla coming in here in a wheelchair."

January 18, 2001 (from the Internet Movie Database)

Michael Clarke Duncan Sprains Ankle As An Ape

Michael Clarke Duncan has sprained his ankle on the set of Planet of the Apes (2001). The larger-than-life actor, who plays a primate in Tim Burton's remake of the 1967 movie, was over vigorous in a running scene at Sony Studios, Hollywood on Monday morning and twisted his ankle. Duncan star was sent straight to hospital where he was treated for a sprain. The movie's stars Tim Roth, Helena Bonham Carter and Kris Kristofferson are having to spend hours in make-up to transform themselves into apes. Bonham Carter has to get up at 1am to have her Ape Princess make-up applied and all the actors, with the exception of Mark Wahlberg who plays the human role played by Charlton Heston in the original, have to wear special teeth. Heston, on the other hand, will have to wear the teeth in his cameo as an ape.

Webmaster Note: Kris Kristofferson doesn't play an ape, he plays a human.

January 16, 2001 (From Ain't It Cool News)

More Pics on PLANET OF THE APES ReMake

Hey folks, Harry here. I have never not loved a Tim Burton film to date.... and never in my life have I seen designs in advance of a Tim Burton film that gave me pause. When he was working on SUPERMAN, some of what we heard was going on seemed bizarre and perhaps inappropriate for Supes... but when the pre-production designs began leaking... they looked fab. BUT these pictures that AMERICAN MULE have been releasing.... Well the quality of the pictures are so starkly lit to take away from the lushness that Oscar Winning DP Philippe Rousselot brings to it... and when it is placed in the context of the sets and is moving... PERHAPS it will all work, but that Ape armor looks like crap in these photos. The helmets and color schemes remind me of the extreme skateboarder look.... which, so far I've never associated with Apes storylines.... BUT who knows... maybe it'll work! maybe.... Hopefully...P.S. I'm not knocking Rick Baker's work... I think the make-up... especially on the CHIMPS is fantastic.... it is just... that armor BLOWS in these pictures... what is up with the flourescent color scheme? But like I said, we'll just have to wait and see in the context of the final film. Remember, when AMERICAN MULE had those X-MEN shots... they kinda sucked too... just like the ones that were here. They were accurate, but they were never meant to be static. We'll have to see how everything comes together... that's why it is a MOVie and not a STILie!

to Harry

I haven't seen this on your site so I decided to send you this link. When clicking below you shall be led to some of the single coolest monkey pictures from Tim Burton's Planet of the Apes. Seriously.

After seeing the vomit-inducing first batch of pictures from this movie, I must say that I was skeptical about the remake. These pics, though, have re-established my faith in Burton.

good afternoon, good evening, and goodnight.

Truman Burbank

Webmaster Note: Click on the pic to see all the images on American Mule. We're convinced now that these are all test shots. You'll notice that the Gorillas and the Orang are all wearing "ape-shape" padding, and no costumes. These shots look much better, though, as Harry said, the costumes will need to be seen in the context of the film. The last photo of Ari (which was also in the first batch) is of Helena Bonham Carter, or her character, at least. Now, if American Mule would just drop the dumb captions...

January 16, 2000

EXCLUSIVE SCOOP!

Webmaster Note: After seeing the first batch of photos from American Mule, we started to get worried. So, we decided to get some confirmation for ourselves, and went to one of our sources who has worked on BOTH the original and the new film. Here's what our source had to say:

"As far as the costumes, and I haven't seen the site, but I have seen them up close... I can tell you they are terrific, not just in quality, but in the art work. Everything about this new Apes is better than the first."

January 16, 2001 (From Variety)

Archerd: Visiting ``Planet of the Apes'' set

By Army Archerd, Daily Variety Senior Columnist

HOLLYWOOD (Variety) - I'm back from a trip to the ``Planet of the Apes.''

Actually, it's my third visit to the ``Planet.'' My first was on July 10, 1967. At that time, I asked Charlton Heston, who played the astronaut, if he would have agreed to have played one of the ape roles, which at that time required three hours of makeup. He said, ``For a good part I'd wear any makeup.''

Despite the success of the first ``Planet,'' in which he owned a percentage, Heston told producer Arthur P. Jacobs he would not do a sequel. But the movie was a huge success and Richard Zanuck, who ran 20th Century Fox at the time, asked Heston to again appear in a ``Planet.'' After much persuasion, Heston agreed on two conditions: that his role required no more than one week -- and that his character was killed off. Zanuck agreed. Heston returned.

Fade into the year 2000 and Zanuck, readying to produce the new ``Planet of the Apes,'' invited Heston to breakfast at the Beverly Hills Hotel and again asked him to come aboard, this time playing an ape. Heston agreed to test four hours of makeup and said he'd play a role -- one day -- in the creation by five-time Oscar-winning makeup artist Rick Baker.

I found Zanuck, Baker, film director Tim Burton and cast members Mark Wahlberg, Tim Roth, Helena Bonham Carter, Kris Kristofferson, Michael Clarke Duncan and 150 apes on Stage 30 at Sony Studios. (It is a Fox feature but there's no vacancy on that busy lot for a set this size.) The stage is transformed by Rick Heinrichs into the apes' city of Derkein; it is multi-terraced, with ape homes carved into the sides of a mountain whose many caverns provide the humans with temporary escape from their ape captors.

Baker's makeup is advanced from the original by John Chambers, who won an Oscar for his work. Even the most subtle facial expression is translated. I touched the cheek of Bonham Carter (as simian Ari) and it felt totally human. She loves playing the part despite the fact she was in makeup at one a.m.! Duncan demonstrated how each facial muscle camouflaged in makeup responded to our conversation. He got a huge laugh (also visible) when Zanuck said he'd bring him down to a Lakers game -- in his ape makeup and costume.

The ape teeth of the principal (speaking) apes are also specifically created, and at mealtime, makeup assistants help remove the dental appliances so the actors may eat; the teeth are sterilized and appropriately marked and readied for when the ``apes'' return to work. The creation of the facial appliances is so critical, Baker told me only one in five appliances evolves to his satisfaction after days of work.

Stage 30 is separated from the rest of the studio by large black curtains drawn across the surrounding streets to prevent prying eyes of mere human actors working on other stages. Trams with blackened windows circle back and forth to the stage from a staging area on Washington Blvd. for makeup, hair, costumes and food. But there is a crafts services table outside the stage and it was funny watching the ``apes'' munching on (real) bananas.

Richard Zanuck, the epitome of a working movie producer, is on the set every day, working and watching each take with Tim Burton. Both say they are enjoying their work immensely. Zanuck proudly tells me that Burton is on schedule and budget. This ``Apes'' is in the $100 million neighborhood, compared to $5 million for the first. It will be in theaters July 27, leaving little time for post-production. But Burton and Zanuck say there is not a lot of f/x in this film, compared to many of Burton's previous pix. There is, however, a large blue screen at one end of the massive set, giving the opportunity to expand the ``city'' to even greater depths. There will be little digital use in the film; but when the company moves to a location in the desert next week, a cast of 300 apes will be used, and they will be digitalized to even greater numbers.

Despite the passage of over 30 years, Zanuck told me he feels Arthur Jacobs' presence on the set. He credits Jacobs for the original film being made. But, in my column of July 11, 1967, I quoted Jacobs saying, ``No one but Zanuck had the courage to buy it.'' Franklin Schaffner, who directed the first ``Apes,'' also gave credit to Zanuck. Schaffner called the picture ``a contemporary message picture, not sci-fiction.''

The original film's classic final scene of the (buried) Statue of Liberty's head squeezing through the earth, carried through that message. As for the tag scene of the 2001 version, Zanuck promised me, it will be ``thought-provoking.''

The Zanuck company starts two more films in six weeks: ``Road to Perdition,'' with Tom Hanks starring, Sam Mendes directing, and ``Reign of Fire,'' starring Matthew McConaughey and Christian Bale for director Rob Bowan. All three Zanuck Co. pix (wife Lili Fini Zanuck is in Ireland readying ``Reign of Fire'') will positively wind before the strike deadline, Dick Zanuck promises.

A week after Mark Wahlberg winds ``Apes,'' he wings to Paris to start the ``Charade,'' remake also to wind pre-strike deadline.

As for the possibility (probability?) of the strike(s), Zanuck too wishes former MCA chairman Lew Wasserman could (again) settle Hollywood's labor woes. Why can't Zanuck step in to do it? He's been part of this biz all his life and knows everyone's importance -- or lack of same.

Reuters/Variety REUTERS

January 15, 2001 (From Cinescape Online)

Lisa Marie Goes 'Apes'

Odds are that it won't surprise you at all to hear that Lisa Marie has a small part in Tim Burton's upcoming remake of Planet of the Apes. According to Variety, the actress who has been in every Burton film starting with Ed Wood, will take on the role of a female ape in the flick.

January 10, 2001 (From Empire Online)

On Set With The Apes

Inside one of the vast sound stages at Sony Pictures’ Culver City lot in Los Angeles, closely guarded from the outside world is Ape City. On initial, eye-popping encounter, it’s a fantastical jungle enclave; soaring outcrops of rock shrouded in mist and choked with trailing vines, twisting undergrowth and massive overhanging trees.

Gazing around from a central, rough-hewn piazza the incredible detail of the set begins to emerge. Dwellings are carved into the rock face, some grand, some squalid; a timbered balcony overhangs the main street and flaming torches flicker in the undergrowth. Half-hidden doorways disappear into shadow and lighted windows glow high up on the towering cliffs.

At one end stands a fortress, its entrance a crack in the stone; at the other is a winding stairway leading up to the wooden pens of the slave market. It’s part King Louie’s Monkey Temple, part Colonel Kurtz’s compound from Apocalypse Now. In short, another beautifully realized mixture of magic and terror from arch visionary Tim Burton.

This is the largest of the indoor sets built for Burton’s quasi remake of Planet of the Apes. Stages elsewhere in the city house a swathe of jungle terrain and the interior of a space station. Shooting at Lake Powell in Arizona (a location used in the original film) has already been completed, and when Ape City is evacuated, cast and crew are headed for the California high desert.

With a platoon of gorilla soldiers hunting the streets for a band of escaped humans (lead by marooned astronaut Mark Wahlberg and rebellious chimp Helena Bonham Carter) there’s ample opportunity to appreciate fx legend Rick Baker’s stunning ape make-up.

"I was obsessed with apes even before the original movie came out," says Baker, who also provided the simian stars for Gorillas in the Mist and Mighty Joe Young, "so even though I was determined I wasn’t going to do any work for a year, when this came up I thought: Tim Burton; Planet of the Apes. I have to do this. The original film inspired a whole generation of makeup artists, and I’m hoping we can achieve the same with this one."

Judging by his handiwork, you can easily believe it. The articulation in the faces of the lead apes is astonishing, each one has its own personality. That doesn’t come easily of course – four hours in the makeup chair for anyone seen in close-up. It’s an ordeal Helena Bonham Carter has to undergo every day, starting a 2:00 am and finishing at 6:00 when she’s due on set. Still, she exacts her revenge later.

"I shouldn’t be doing this of course," she says, blowing cigarette smoke through her cute little chimp nostrils (which is just as bizarre a sight as it sounds). "I’m extremely flammable and Rick gets terribly upset." From two feet away, she is completely unrecognizable beneath her mask. "My mum thinks I look like my aunt," she says, fingering her snout.

On this set, the marvelous anachronisms that abound when you get a glimpse behind the scenes are magnified ten-fold. During a rehearsal for one scene, the gorilla search party marches up the steps to the slave quarters, banging their staffs rhythmically on the ground as they go. Their leader seems to be chanting some kind of menacing ape mantra. As they approach, it turns out he is actually maintaining order in the ranks by singing Queen’s We Will Rock You.

January 9, 2000 (From Variety)

Fox Goes 'Ape' with Merchandising

By Dana Harris

HOLLYWOOD (Variety) - Twentieth Century Fox hopes its big summer picture ``Planet of the Apes'' will generate a lot of monkey business in the merchandising world.

Together with toy manufacturer Hasbro and specialty marketer Applause, the studio has unveiled a major marketing push for the Tim Burton epic.

The program, which will be launched at New York's Intl. Toy Fair (Feb. 11-15), is expected to generate revenues for the studio along the lines of those for other Fox event titles such as ``Independence Day'' or ``X-Men.''

Hasbro will unveil a line of action figures and collectible toys at the Toy Fair, and will ship them to retailers just before the film's July release.

Dark Horse Comics will publish ``Planet'' comic books and graphic novels, while Buster Brown will produce footwear. In addition to traditional products such as lunch boxes, posters, knit caps, trading cards, T-shirts and backpacks, the ``Planet'' line will also include dioramas, inflatable furniture, scooters and scooter heads, underwear, clocks and shower caps.

The picture, which began shooting Nov. 6, is expected to wrap in April. Mark Wahlberg, Helena Bonham Carter and Michael Clarke Duncan star.

January 8, 2001 (from Dark Horizons)

Planet of the Apes: A local reliable source claims to have just confirmed that George Clooney will indeed be in the 'Apes' movie but in the form of an uncredited cameo as one of the ape army generals rallying the troops.

January 8, 2001 (From Ain't It Cool News)

Jason joins the hunt in PLANET OF THE APES, plus additional info about those pictures!

Hey folks, Harry here with the latest rumor from the great folks at Diabolical-Dominion.Com have come in with a rumor about a certain genre badass and certain hairy flick. The results might surprise ya a bit though... and after that, more on those PLANET OF THE APES pics that Moriarty posted....

Hey Harry!

We've got word at The Diabolical Dominion that Kane Hodder (of FRIDAY THE 13th fame) is set to have a role in Tim Burton's new remake "Planet of the Apes"! Hodder is reportedly playing a human, but the role is still unspecified at this time.

Most would assume that Hodder, who is used to being under massive amount of make-up and is one of The United States foremost stuntmen, would be cast as a hunking ape warrior. However, the word now seems official that we'll get to see Kane without a mask this time. When more info comes in on this one, we'll be sure to let ya know about it asap!!!

Best wishes-
Ted
The Diabolical Dominion

Alright folks, Harry here again.... The AMERICAN MULE pics were pretty scary... One I thought the lighting on those pics was TERRIBLE.... two there were some evidence that made me feel the make-up work might be preliminary... and from a featured extra on set... we seem to have it confirmed a bit here. Though she does tell our guy that the costumes are pretty accurate... and the armor was the part that I had the oddest reaction to. I really wish I was seeing that armor in the context of the world that Burton is creating for them. And that's my hope, that when it all comes together... I'll love it... but for now, I feel the exact same way as when I got those X-MEN photos last year.... It looked scary... looked a bit cheesy... and I was just hoping that it would work in the context of the film.... it did. Let's hope the same is true here....

H.G. Wells here. A friend of mine is a featured extra on Apes (she plays one of the human captives), and has been on set for about 2 weeks now. Here's what she has to say on the photos:

"The costumes are pretty accurate, but the faces are probably first stage of the makeup renderings. I can assure you and anyone concerned that the photos on the website do not do justice to the amazing makeup that has been appearing on the set. I truly feel as if I'm working in some sort of zoo with the amazing authenticity that Rick Baker has brought to the look of the apes. Not to mention the articulation in the masks of the principal characters. (Attar especially)"

There you have it. Straight from the apes' lair. Now if she can just get onto the Spidey set...

H.G. Wells

January 5, 2001 (from Dark Horizons)

Planet of the Apes: Move over teaser poster. American Mule, the guys who scored all those "Josie & The Pussycats" pics the other day, have landed the biggest scoop yet it seems on Tim Burton's 'Apes' remake - nice, studio lit posing shots of actors in full ape makeup and costume. The outfits match the recent shots of make-up less extras - trouble is the color scheme is, well 'bleeeeh!!' best sums it up under the direct lighting (shots in daylight have the bright reds looking more like dirty browns). Still, something about the pics and the shots seems a little off - but check 'em out above and judge for yourself. The site will also be relaunching soon to include fresh scoops. Thanks to 'Adam.'

Webmaster Note: Click on the pic to see all the images on American Mule. We're really hoping that these are early test shots done before Baker came on board. "Cheesey" is the best word to describe them -- the make-up in the original film looked better.

December 29, 2000

Our New Year's Gift to You

Want a better look at the new poster? Loyal Reader Cliff sent us a photo he snapped of it at his local cineplex. We saw it last weekend, and the fuzzy version that appeared on Dark Horizons last week doesn't do it justice (though we commend them for being first). Why Fox hasn't released their own high-quality scan, we don't know. We're hoping their Internet marketing arm will kick into gear pretty soon. And where's that teaser trailer?

After seeing the poster, the sets, and some of the costumes, we have to admit we're getting pretty excited about this project.

Click on the thumbnail for the larger version.

December 28, 2000 (From Ain't It Cool News)

Coming Attractions lands Great PLANET OF THE APES scoop and pics!

Hey folks, Harry here.... Patrick and the crew of Coming Attractions have scored an awesome report with tons of pictures from the spaceship crash landing set of PLANET OF THE APES!!! This stuff is fantastic! Also, they have shots of some of the extras in the ape armor (but no ape make-up quite yet dangit, but stay tuned to Coming Attractions for what is sure to be some amazing scoops from this film. Way to go guys!

December 26, 2000 (From Cinescape Online)

'Apes' Test Pictures

A number of shots from a Planet of the Apes make-up test have turned up online. Over the weekend, Ain't It Cool News scored a major coup with what looks like images grabbed from a video tape showing test make-up for Tim Burton's Planet of the Apes remake.

Webmaster Note: Actually, as you'll see in the updated AICN article, these are make-up tests done by Stan Winston, who was originally slated to do the make-up (during the James Cameron period of development). Click on the pic to see the full article on AICN. Great job, Harry!

December 24, 2000 (From the New York Times)

Going Ape By Amy Barrett 

It's easy to forget that we're primates -- which is why Hollywood directors hire coaches to help actors when they're making movies like ''Gorillas in the Mist,'' ''Congo'' and now ''Planet of the Apes,'' currently being shot in Los Angeles for a summer release. Tim Burton, who is remaking the 1968 science-fiction classic about a future in which evolved apes rule the world and humans struggle for survival, hired two such experts to make sure Helena Bonham Carter, Tim Roth and others authentically mimic the behavior of chimpanzees, gorillas and orangutans. Here Terry Notary, the film's movement coach, and John Alexander, a consultant who worked with Notary before filming began, offer some insight into channeling the beast within.

ZEN AND THE ART OF APING IT

To act like a big ape, Alexander suggests working from the outside in: ''If you can get the movement, the thought will come with it,'' he says. Notary prefers getting the frame of mind right first. ''Humans are so distracted,'' he says. ''Apes just focus. If they are eating a grape, they are into it. And when they are done, they go onto something else 100 percent. That's living moment to moment. Finding your inner ape is really, truly living.''

SCHOOL IS FOR CHIMPS

For a month and a half before shooting started, the ''Planet of the Apes'' actors attended what they called ape school on a Los Angeles sound stage outfitted with ropes, boxes, mirrors, play weapons and toys. Each day began with an hourlong yogalike stretch. Then they breathed from the center of their bodies. After that, they moved into ''first ape position'' (think ballet dancer): relaxed knees, weight transferred to the outsides of the feet for a bowed shape, head and hips pushed forward, shoulders dropped and arms slightly rounded, but relaxed and independent. (''These are appendages with a mind of their own,'' Notary observes.) From this stance the actors took their first ape steps. The trick is to keep your upper body still and let the legs move straight from the hips while the feet stay flat. Smaller steps give the illusion of shorter ape legs. Of course, not all apes are the same. Chimps are hunched over and move quickly. Gorillas stand upright, heavily. (''I tell them to feel like they are pulling a tow boat behind them as they are walking,'' Notary says.) And orangutans are slower and graceful.

GET ME MAKE UP!

Simian body movement is all the more important for those, like the ''Planet of the Apes'' cast, encased in costumes and prosthetics and heavy makeup, because facial expressions are somewhat muted. This can be a boon for would-be apes. Notary says of the actors' costumes: ''It's like dunking your head under water in the tub. And you can just kind of exit your body. I think it helps people find their inner apes.'' When they do, they should remember that apes are often more emotionally volatile than humans. That's why the actors' exercises at ape school included switching immediately from one emotion to another -- from, say, happiness to anger. -- Amy Barrett

(Thanks to Loyal Reader Brian for sending this to us).

December 18, 2000 (From Cinescape Online)

Baker Talks 'Apes'

Make up master Rick Baker has been talking about the massive job of making all those monkey faces for Tim Burton's Planet of the Apes remake.

While chatting with EW Online, Baker was asked about what we'll see in the coming film, which prompted him to answer, "Oh, boy, there's hundreds of apes to do. It's another enormous job with very little preproduction time. I really can't talk about it too much, but it's a more realistic approach [to the apes] than in the original movie. But they are still humanized in that they are biped, and they can talk."

Baker also talks about his one-time goal of making the ultimate ape suit as well as how he arrived at the Apes remake, saying, "I thought I was done making apes after 1988's Gorillas in the Mist. It was always my goal to do a gorilla that people wouldn't know from the real thing, so after that I said, 'Okay, I've accomplished that; it's time to move on.' But it's kind of like Christopher Lee saying he'll never play Dracula again. When I was approached about Mighty Joe Young, I had a real hard time turning that down. [The 1949 original] was always one of my favorite films. I did the Dino De Laurentiis version of King Kong in 1976 and was always disappointed because I wasn't able to do it as realistically as I wanted, and I thought this would be a good way to make up for that. And after that I thought, 'Okay, I'm DEFINITELY not gonna do any more.' And then Tim Burton called me. It was such a landmark makeup picture, and I just had the hardest time turning it down. I'm a big makeup geek and a big ape geek, and I just thought, I really have to do this."

December 18, 2000 (From Cinescape Online)

Shadix Talks 'Apes'

Actor Glenn Shadix (Nightmare Before Christmas, Beetlejuice) has been shedding some light on Tim Burton's Planet of the Apes production.

In an e-mail interview with the Tim Burton Collective website, the character actor relates the training involved in being one of the film's apes, saying, "Ape school is a trip. We stretch and warm up and then learn specific movements and posturing. I play an Orangutan and my posture and movement is different from that of a chimp or a gorilla. There is a lot of preproduction work with our make-up which includes personalized Ape dentures that require some getting used to as well as some work with how to handle props in an appropriately ape-like manner using our 'ape extremities.' We also spend time examining Ape psychology in terms of how it affects behavior and movement. There are trips to the Zoo and Lisa Marie just sent me some great video tapes of apes in the wild. Along with all the research comes making idiosyncratic choices for our individual characters. It's a great luxury to have such a formalized research and rehearsal period. Believe me, on most films you are left to your own resourcefulness so Ape school is a real treat for the actors."

Shadix also doesn't find the make-up sessions grueling. On the contrary, he says, "I have found it very relaxing for the most part. I actually fell asleep in the make-up chair the first day that the full make-up was applied. It takes a little over three hours with two make-up artists working. I have to say that the make-up designer Rick Baker and his team are the very best and they make the experience as pleasant as is humanly possible!"

(Thanks to Dark Horizons for leading the way!)

December 18, 2000 (from Dark Horizons)

FOX's Upcoming: Some really juicy stuff here from within the bowels of Murdoch's film company. Despite rumours of the three, FOX has only released on "Planet of the Apes" one-sheet so far - though that doesn't mean they're not coming it just means they won't be out till into the new year (will try to get confirmation either way this week). In any case the good news is the studio plans to do as much, if not more for the 'Apes' official site than they did with "X-Men".

December 17, 2000 (From Ain't It Cool News)

More inside info on the PLANET OF THE APES project

Father Geek here with a report from our man Flint about the PLANET OF THE APES flick. Wow, its funny how this stuff comes in. Yesterday I posted a story on this film, an hour later I updated it, then a couple of hours later I updated it again. Now I get this report from a longtime Hollywood spy. It completes the picture a little more, so Apes fans dig in... there is some fun stuff ahead...

Hey There, One of your favorite spies here with a report on the much debated makeup for Tim Burton’s new “Planet Of The Apes.” Hope you don’t mind me weighing in with some observations from a formerly top secret source I know.

A girlfriend of mine is one of the people connected to the video for a “behind the scenes” on the making of the movie which will no doubt air in different lengths and forms next year. (She’s speculating that with all the anticipation for this flick, Fox will probably broadcast a whole special comprised of this footage as well as interviews on their very own network around the time the film comes out.)

This digital footage is being kept under tight lock and key, but I was able to watch quite a sizable unedited portion that was shot at Rick Baker’s shop at her apartment the other night. Some of it was just handheld stuff, walking around showing countless people working on ape appliances. One guy was shown gluing hairs onto assorted arms and headpieces. It looked monotonous and tedious, and apparently the guy’s been doing it forever and going half nuts according to the group I was watching this with. (Incidentally, the makeup dude had real long hair of his own and is reportedly also part of a heavy metal band during his off hours.)

My galpal says that what’s going on at Baker’s place parallels the original workforce from the first “Planet,” which employed legions of troops to make monkeys out of men. She thinks the special will do some “side by side” comparisons, if the Burton camp allows it.

Obviously, security has also remained tight at the shop, so one funny story my amiga shared was that some crazy looking guy crashed Baker’s studio and was running all around making the whole crew nervous. The makeup crew assumed he was either an insane fan or even a homeless person. It turned out to be none other than Rick Baker in disguise, playing a practical joke on everyone for his birthday.

They’ve shot film of various lead actors going through their makeup rituals, but I didn’t get to see any of that since it wasn't being digitized I guess. I did see some shots of actors in their finalized ape makeup, and I must chime in that they certainly don’t improve on John Chamber’s original groundbreaking look.

In particular, I miss the extended “muzzle” from the original POTA flicks, even though what I’ve seen looks to allow the actors more “expression” in their features and articulation. These makeups do resemble more “natural” apes, than the quasi humanized “mutated” simians from the classic films.

My friend said that while it was discussed having extensive hydraulics and other advancements in these new makeups, it was ultimately deemed too time consuming and expensive to utilize, as well as unreliable… which seems a shame.

Tim Burton apparently wanted a “purist” approach to his apes, but my friend claims that any disappointment we might have with them purely on a visceral “first look” level will be lessened once we see them in action. She feels the makeup in general isn’t being done justice judged without the actors behind them. (she called Tim Roth’s work “inspired,” as well as a quite obvious homage to Roddy McDowell. She also offered that Helena Bonham Carter’s portrayal is quite “out there.”)

One thing did impress me quite a bit. It was some “extended” arms some of the apes will be utilizing, along with some sort of “puppet monkey hands” attached at the end.

Shown worn on a few performers, it literally elongated their arms so that when they walked “slumped over” in primate fashion, they resembled “knuckle draggers” to coin my friend’s expression. The fingers respond in a very lifelike way, and can actually move and grip like real hands. Coupled with their choreographed movements, Tim Burton’s apes will definitely have a style of walking all their own. (She says they’ve got some great “B roll” shots of “ape actors” interacting with real monkeys, not a scene from the film but strictly more “behind the scenes” stuff of them goofing around, seeing if the actual chimps will bond with their ersatz counterparts.)

Finally, I asked my friend if she knew anything about the now infamous ending of this new version. She wouldn’t shed any light on that, but said there’s a significant amount of humor in this version, some of it along the lines of twisted “Mars Attacks” type stuff and that one particular “joke” will make anti-vivisectionists proud.

Anyhow, that’s about it.

Your Man,
Derek Flint

December 15, 2000 (From Ain't It Cool News)

Take a look around the PLANET OF THE APES set, plus added info

Well, Father Geek received this bit of news today, some of it good, some not so good. Of course keep in mind that seeing sets, costumes, makeup in person is never as nice as in a finished motion picture with all the special lighting and atmospherics added, not to mention CGI. The look of the film isn't what bothers Father Geek here. Burton will see to it that it looks and feels great. What worrys me are those comments about the script, hopefully Tim will work those problems out before all is said and done.

I love your site - and here's some interesting news for you and your readers about the new PLANET OF THE APES - or - as it's listed here on the Sony Studio lot --- THE VISITOR.

Stage 29 has an absolutely COLOSSAL set - it's known as the APE BASE CAMP (there are even signs outside the stage in the studio street that say that, in front of some of the make-up trailors. The set itself is literally the largest set I've ever seen. This is Sony's (formerly MGM's) biggest soundstage; it's the same stage where they built the giant miniature amusement park for Speilberg's 1941, which I used to walk around in when they were shooting here. Anyway, the Base Camp rises right up to the rafters - it's easily over 4 stories tall. It's actually a city 'built into the rock', like one of the famous American Indian dwellings built into sheer rock faces. Gray in color. Magnificent. Huge blocks of foamcore were used - they were carved by hand, assembled & glued onto the wooden scaffoldings, forming 'glacier-size' stone faces, complete with steps to walk up. It's literally built in 3 dimentions - so the camera can do a 360 degree turn if director Tim Burton wants to. Brush, plants & tree branches has been strewn throughout the setting to make it look absolutely real.

Now the the APES themselves. I've seen about 6 or 7 of the ape people. To tell the truth, the make-ups, while superbly (and realistically) done, are disappointing. The ape make-ups are nothing more than a standard gorilla or chimpanzee head sticking out of futuristic clothing. It's as if Rick Baker pulled a bunch of his great GREYSTOKE, THE LEGEND OF TARZAN ape masks/prostectics from the back of his shop, did some minor recycling, and threw them onto actors wearing clothes. There was No stylization, no creativity in the design of the make-ups. But don't blame Baker; Burton is directing the film, and the decision is his. It's going to be regular-looking apes and gorillas with moving mouths to voice the words.

Beyond that, this film's story will feature a revolt of the humans against the apes. The humans of the planet are actors in loincloth or pelt clothing, covered with lots of dirt & mud smears. Nothing to write home about.

Beyond that, one of my friends has talked with a (very important) production member on this film - sorry, I can't give out his name - this would embarrass him (not to mention, get him in a great deal of trouble), and he's 'way too near the top of this picture - but the man said that the script is really "not much, a real disappointment. It should have been better." He hoped Burton would get some kind of polish by the guys who worked at the 'tale end of the scriptwriting stage on SLEEPY HOLLOW' (perhaps he was referring to Tom Stoppard?). He did say that the writing of scriptwriting team of Konner and Rosenthal was "Mediocre. Totally uninspired. Forgettable dialogue."

Well, I hope you can use this. If you'd like me to find out more, let me know.

Sincerely,

The Spy in Culver City

Father Geek back with some added info...

H.G. Wells here. I've been workin' overtime at the good ol' WB lot, and though we're done for X-Mas, I was contracted to work over at Sony for the next couple of weeks. This is fine by me, cuz I'm a huge Apes fan. Read the talk about the set... it is definitely impressive as defined in the article. A few more tidbits that you may or may not know (I'm holdin' onto the real good stuff for awhile... I don't wanna piss off Burton too much.):

Tim Roth is indeed playing Cornelius. He looks freakin' great in makeup, although your spy was correct- the actual makeup itself is pretty standard. But really, what can you do with monkey masks?

Nova (who still does not speak, apparently) has a family. Yep. Papa Nova, and Nova brother/sister (?).

More monkey-biz to follow...

H.G. Wells (aka Beppo the super-monkey)

Father Geek again with still more APES info...

I'm working on the film...WAY at the bottom. I'll be one of the Background apes. While I have not seen the set he described (yet), I did see some of the stages downtown at L.A. Center Studios. This is where I went to "Ape School". I'll talk about that in a second.

When I first approached the stages, several workers were unloading and categorizing large dry twisted trees. Standard Burton fare, but I love the look of it. I imagine him auditioning the dead trees, seeking the perfect dark and twisty curves. It looks inside like they are "foresting" the stages. Pretty cool, very Burton.

Then I went to ape school with 25 other extras. I'm an orangutan. There's gorillas, and chimps, too. We got a detailed class in wearing the costumes, including a demonstration with one of the "gorilla warrior" costumes.I thought the costume was pretty cool. a rich red armor. The helmet stretches back Alien style. It's a cool look.

The spy mentioned that the apes look just like apes, nothing special. It's true, but as it was explained to me, the idea is that they are very much more apes than the old school apes that are nearly human. These guys will be AGILE! they will leap from tree to tree and in battle, will be much more brutal and quick than the humans. Good luck Humans!

We were trained in ape movement by a talented guy whose name escapes me(sorry). I do know that he worked on ape movement for Mighty Joe Young, Greystoke,...I heard many ape movie names rattled off. An acrobat from Cirque Du Soliel was his sidekick. We worked our asses off and I went home pretty wrecked. We shared the stage with the stunt crew. They were working out the leaping and attacking movements. A lot of very powerful ratchets, one which lifted a net that "scooped" to humans out of a crowd. Cool shit. enjoy,

Nutslap

December 15, 2000 (from Dark Horizons)

Planet of the Apes: A lucky streak on teaser posters it seems. "Harry Potter" international one sheet yesterday, today a first look at the US domestic teaser one-sheet for "Planet of the Apes". Not as clear a scan though, this is a webcam shot of it - the real life baby is now up on E-Bay apparently. Thanks to 'Hargon' and 'Chris'.

Webmaster Note: We're hoping a better copy and the teaser trailer appear online soon.

December 14, 2000 (from AOL's E! Online)

Gorillas in the Midst: There's a lot of monkey business going down on Sony's Stage 30, where a breathtaking desert valley has been created that spans floor to ceiling.

What's going on behind the closed doors?

It's the filming of Tim Burton's Planet of the Apes, which features an ending so top secret few connected with the project have even been allowed to read it. (I hear it contains a visual revelation as heart-stopping as that Statue of Liberty poking through the sand of the original.)

In case you can't wait for a peek at Burton's vision, the first Apes trailer could arrive in theaters as early as today. Here's some of what you can expect the notoriously cagey Burton to reveal:

Apes begins in the near future when a gorilla genetically altered for long-distance space travel is sent into the cosmos, where he falls into a time portal that transports him 2,000 years into the past. Mark Wahlberg plays an astronaut who somehow follows this craft into the same black hole.

Wahlberg crash-lands on a familiar-looking planet and discovers that the area where the simian touched down has been branded a holy land--the Forbidden Zone--and that this ape could be the missing link. His descendants revere him, which leads to the big question: Did humans evolve from apes or vice versa?

The gorillas in the film also promise to be less like humans in face masks and more beastly. They live in caves, walk with a Neanderthal hunch and give off a more savage vibe.

Yes, Charlton Heston will appear in a role that remains undefined. And yes, Wahlberg will have a hint of a relationship with Helena Bonham Carter's ape princess. But--sorry, Mark fans--Wahlberg will not do his work in a loincloth. He'll be decked out in a space suit for most of the film.

December 13, 2000 (from Coming Attractions)

In a recent interview with Fashion magazine's Leanne Delap, Estella Warren indicates that she's been "taking archery and bareback riding lessons" for her next role, that of a human warrior princess fighting the ruling monkey classes in Tim Burton's remake of Planet of the Apes. "I've had the costume fittings. I wear a gauze dress. A very small gauze dress." [Scooped by 'Dice'; originally appeared in Fashion magazine.]

December 12, 2000 (from Dark Horizons)

George Clooney Talks: The Cloonster has just done a press junket for "O Brother Where Art Thou" and finally cleared up those rumours he'll be making a cameo in Tim Burton's "Planet of the Apes" remake - "No, I think that's a made up rumor. That's the first I've heard of it". Meantime work on Clooney's next film is getting into full swing with the Associated Press reporting that the Atlantic City Convention Center will be hosting a casting call for the "Ocean's Eleven" remake at 10 a.m., Room 308, Atlantic City Convention Center, 2314 Pacific Avenue. Thanks to 'Jill' & 'Nick'.

For the previous history of the Apes Remake, go to our Remake News Archive Page 2 for news from 2/2000 through 11/2000. For news from 6/95 through 7/99, visit our first Remake News Archive.

Questions or comments? Please contact us at .

Disclaimer: This site is in no way affiliated with Twentieth Century Fox, APJAC Productions, or any other entity involved in the production of Planet of the Apes films, TV shows, and related materials. This is a non-profit site run for the sole purpose of providing information and entertainment, and is not intended to infringe upon any copyrights.