Steve Zahn has just landed a role in 2017’s Matt Reeves-directed War of the Planet of the Apes. According to The Hollywood Reporter, the actor, similar to series star Andy Serkis, will use motion capture technology to bring to life a new ape in the film.
Serkis will return as Caesar, a role he has played in both 2011’s Rise of the Planet of Apes and 2014’s Dawn of the Planet of the Apes, for the upcoming third film in the series. Other new additions to the cast include Woody Harrelson, who is set to play a human villain named the Colonel, and Gabriel Chavarria, who is the film’s human lead.
Over the course of his career, Zahn has appeared in films ranging from Diary of a Wimpy Kid to Dallas Buyers Club. In addition to his role in War, Zahn has signed on to star in such future projects as Pixar’s The Good Dinosaur, Adam Sandler’s The Ridiculous Six and Donovan Cook’s Robodog.
Along with Reeves, Dawn writer Mark Bomback will pen the script for War of the Planet of the Apes, which is scheduled for release on July 14, 2017 in the US and July 21, 2017 in the UK.