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“Zero Dark Thirty” breakout star Jason Clarke has signed on to topline sequel “Dawn of the Planet of the Apes”, the follow-up to 2011′s surprise hit “Rise of the Planet of the Apes”, reports THR. Matt Reeves is taking over directing duties from Rupert Wyatt and Clarke is the first actor to sign on to the sequel. Original stars James Franco and Freida Pinto are not expected to return.
Part of the reason they will likely not return is because the sequel takes place 15 years after the events of the first film, which saw genetically fortified apes – led by Andy Serkis as Caesar – launching a successful revolution and overtaking humans. Part of the story will follow a group of scientists still trying to survive alone in San Francisco, while another storyline will follow Caesar’s ongoing struggle to remain in control of his new kingdom. Presumably Clarke will play one of the scientists. Filming is set to begin this spring.
Clarke, one of our Faces to Watch in 2013, already had a hell of a 2012 with roles in John Hillcoat’s “Lawless” and Kathryn Bigelow’s “Zero Dark Thirty”, in which he gave a scene-stealing, Oscar-worthy performance opposite Jessica Chastain. In 2013 he’ll have Channing Tatum starrer “White House Down” and Baz Luhrmann’s “The Great Gatsby”, in which he plays Isla Fisher’s husband, to show off his considerable talents even more.
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