Source: Deadline | First Showing

The first bit of major casting news for the new Planet of the Apes prequel Rise of the Apes has hit the web. Deadline reports that James Franco (the Spider-Man films) has been cast in the lead role!

Not a lot is known about Franco’s role in the film, but First Showing had this to add:

Franco’s scientist character has been working on a cure for Alzheimer’s that is being tested on apes. The test subject, named Caesar, starts to evolve rapidly, and the scientist takes him home to live with him and protects him from cruel doctors. The movie will be set in contemporary San Francisco and leads into the inevitable war between apes and humans.

I have always thought that James Franco is a good actor, and I look forward to seeing what he does with the role he has been given for this film since he doesn’t seem to be an obvious choice to play a scientist-type character. Given the wide variety of roles he has played, I’m sure he is capable of creating an interesting character here.

The film will be directed by Rupert Wyatt (The Escapist) and is set to be released in theaters June 24, 2011.