‘Dawn of the Planet of the Apes’ Blu-ray Interview: Matt Reeves

Matt Reeves has an eclectic filmography. Since moving to cinema, The creator of TV’s lovelorn wanderlust “Felicity” delivered one of the best found footage movies of all time in Cloverfield, and then one of the best remakes of all time in the American vampire remake, Let Me In, which is probably only held in modest esteem because it was remade so soon after Let the Right One In. But both films announced him as a filmmaker with some great tricks. His next gig turned out to be taking the mantle from Rupert Wyatt, who directed the out-of-nowhere critical and moneymaking hit, Rise of the Planet of the Apes, and running with the franchise. Reeves was hired for part two and three of the Apes prequels to the 60s films (and novels).

When CraveOnline sat down with Reeves he gave a lot of credit to Wyatt for taking a chance with the level of motion capture that no one had done before. He knew it’d work because he’d seen Wyatt’s film. But that still didn’t keep Reeves from looking out at set somedays and seeing a bunch of men in tight gray suits with sensory balls on them behaving like apes and thinking that it all looked very strange.

Related: Andy Serkis on the Evolution of Motion Capture Technology

Reeves also mentioned that the third Apes film will make Caesar an “Ape Moses.” Will he lead his fellow apes to the Atlantic Ocean? What’s it like filming a lengthy battle sequence where the audience wants it to end so that everyone will survive and just talk it out? These answers and more, above.

During the press conference for the Blu-ray Reeves said he wanted to make Dawn a western with apes, but don’t expect the musical Stop the Planet of the Apes, I Want to Get Off! anytime soon. Yes, Reeves did sing a little bit of the “Dr. Zaius” song from “The Simpsons” ape musical at the presser. Unfortunately that won’t be in the Blu-ray special features.

Dawn of the Planet of the Apes will be released on Blu-ray on December 2nd. Get your hands on it, you dirty ape.

Brian Formo is a featured contributor on the CraveOnline Film Channel. You can follow him on Twitter at @BrianEmilFormo.