The sequel to Rise of the Planet of the Apes was thrown into a bit of a confusion last week when director Rupert Wyatt pulled out of the movie, currently titled Dawn of the Planet of the Apes. Now Fox is scrambling to find a replacement, with the hope they can keep the May 2014 release date they’ve set.
At the top of the list at the moment are Matt Reeves (Let Me In), J Blakeson (The Disappearance of Alice Creed), Juan Carlos Fresnadillo (Intruders), and Jeff Nichols (Take Shelter), Guillermo del Toro (Hellboy), Juan Antonio Bayona (The Impossible) and Rian Johnson (Looper). It is said that Matt Reeves is at the top of the studio’s short list, although the others are still in contention. That may be a bit of a surprise to some, as Reeves is supposed to be putting together a Twilight Zone movie, but apparently he stepped away from that recently, freeing up his schedule.
Wyatt reportedly left because he wasn’t comfortable with meeting the May 26, 2014 release date Fox had already set for the effects heavy film. The studio is hoping to find somebody who thinks that date is do-able. (Source: Deadline)