Source: Deadline | First Showing

The much talked about Planet of the Apes prequel/reboot finally has a release date. Also, more information has been released regarding the creation of the apes in the new film. Read on!

The Planet of the Apes prequel, tentatively titled Rise of the Apes, is scheduled to film this summer and is set to be released in theaters June 24, 2011.

Oscar-winning visual effects studio Weta Digital, using technology very similar to what was used on Avatar, will be creating photo-realistic CGI apes for the prequel rather than using costumed actors like in the previous Apes films.

Peter Chernin and Dylan Clark, along with Rise of the Apes screenplay writers Amanda Silver and Rick Jaffa, will be producing the film for Chernin Entertainment under its new pact with 20th Century Fox. Rupert Wyatt (The Escapist) has signed on to direct the film.

Deadline gives a plot synopsis:

RISE OF THE APES (tentative title) is an origin story in the truest sense of the term. Set in present day San Francisco, the film is a reality-based cautionary tale, a science fiction/science fact blend, where man’s own experiments with genetic engineering lead to the development of intelligence in apes and the onset of a war for supremacy.

Now, as far as I can tell, it has not been made clear whether or not this is a prequel to the original 1967 Planet of the Apes film or the Tim Burton remake from 2001. However, since people are calling this prequel a reboot of sorts, my best guess is that it is a prequel to the original film that starred Charlton Heston.

Lastly, after reading some of the responses around the web on the choice of using CGI instead of costumes to create the apes, it seems that many are not happy with the decision. But if they look any bit as good as the Na’vi did in Avatar, I’d say this is a great move. From what I hear, the CGI technology is even better now than when Avatar started filming.

Keep checking back in for all the latest details on Rise of the Apes!