The motion capture demo mentioned during the show can be seen here.

Meet the New Ape, Not at All Like the Old Ape: A MoCapped Andy Serkis takes command in RISE OF THE PLANET OF THE APES.

Startling the studios, startling the critics, and startling its delighted audiences, RISE OF THE PLANET OF THE APES has arrived to prove that a reboot — in the hands of a skilled director and inspired writers, actors and effects artists — does not necessarily need to serve as Exhibit One in the case for the film industry’s creative bankruptcy. Join theofantastique.com’s John W. Morehead and Cinefantastique Online’s Lawrence French and Dan Persons as they explore how the latest retooling of a moribund franchise has become the most bracing film of the summer, discuss some emotional nuances director Rupert Wyatt uses to bring depth to the fantasy, celebrate Andy Serkis’ work as our new simian overlord, and sift over some notable glitches in the scenario.

Also: Some thoughts on the revelation that Steven Sodherbergh is directing second unit sequences for  THE HUNGER GAMES; and what’s coming to theaters and home video.

From his Website

Verne Langdon was a multi-talented make-up artist, mask maker, musician, composer, record producer, writer, occasional actor, and even a wrestler in his time. He passed away Saturday, January 1st, at the age of 69.
 
Langdon was a familiar name and face to readers of Famous Monsters Of Filmland magazine in the 1960’s and 70’s. He wrote a few articles, but was also written about, as he was behind many of the famous masks of the Universal Studios monsters made by the Don Post Studios, and sold in the magazine.

He recorded a An Evening with Boris Karloff and His Friends for Decca Records, and composed and performed two albums of horror-oriented music, Vampire At The Harpsicord and Phantom of The Organ. Langdon also recorded a number of non-genre music albums, available on CD.

Responible for many of Don Post’s famous masks, he designed his own original, The Zombie, which is highly prized today by mask collectors.

Verne Langdon also  produced and designed live shows featuring monsters and make-up for Universal Studios.

Film & TV credits include THE HAUNTED PALACE, THE COMEDY OF TERRORS, the PAT PAULSON TV show, and the PLANET OF THE APES film series, working with designer John Chambers.

His official website can supply more details about his life, showing that  Verne Langdom was still active with a wide range of projects and horror/sci-fi fandom up until his death.

News via The Classic Horror Film Board.

Tom Felton as Draco Malfoy

Actor Tom Felton, who gained notoriety for his portrayal of the role of Draco Malfoy in the HARRY POTTER films, has signed on to 20th Century Fox’s RISE OF THE APES, a prequel to the beloved PLANET OF THE APES.

Felton’s character is said to be the co-owner of an ape facility along with his evil father (Brian Cox). Freida Pinto, John Lithgow, and James Franco make up a team of scientists whose work with an ape named Caesar spells doom for all of humanity.

It should be noted that the visual effects for RISE OF THE APES are being handled by Weta Digital, the some effects house that worked on AVATAR. You can expect photorealistic apes for the first time in the franchise’s history. RISE OF THE APES is slated for release on June 24, 2011.

Sources: ScreenRant, Twitter

Rupert Wyatt will direct the feature, which focuses on a scientist (Franco) who has been working on a cure for Alzheimer’s that is being tested on apes. The test subject named Caesar evolves rapidly, and the scientist takes him home to live with him and protects him from cruel doctors.

Lithgow will play Franco’s Alzheimer’s-stricken father. Pinto is the movie’s female lead, a primatologist.

Shooting is scheduled to begin in British Columbia this summer. The screenplay is by Amanda Silver and Rick Jaffa.