Exclusive New Look At War For The Planet Of The Apes

Pick up a copy of the new issue of Empire and – alongside our epic 100 Greatest Movies list – you'll see an extensive on-set report from War For The Planet Of The Apes, the latest entry in the sci-fi prequel trilogy. The full feature is in the magazine (on sale now) but we can give you a little taster of what to expect – including this world exclusive image at the ape leader Caesar (Andy Serkis), looking aged, grizzled, and battle-weary. Take a look below, and click to embiggen.

The full feature brings word from director Matt Reeves on his vision, widening his visual scope by shooting on 65mm. “I wanted this film to be like a Biblical epic,” explains Reeves in the new issue of Empire. “Mark [Bomback, Reeves’ co-writer] and I looked at classic war movies: The Bridge On The River Kwai, Patton, Apocalypse Now. But we were also thinking in terms of things such as The Ten Commandments. I wanted it to feel very intimate in the foreground, but with grand vistas always dwarfing [the characters]. In a sense it’s about these two species pitted against each other and nature being greater than both of them. I wanted a David Lean ape movie.”

Sounds like an enticing prospect. War For The Planet Of The Apes arrives in cinemas on 11 July, but you can read all about it in the new Empire, on sale right now.

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