Aleks Paunovic To Make ‘War For The Planet Of The Apes’; Newcomer Zachary Haven Joins ‘Bastards’

Aleks Paunovic is set to help swell the ranks of Caesar’s army, joining 20th Century Fox’s War For The Planet of The Apes as a new ape character to be revealed at a later date. The film picks up after the events of last year’s Dawn Of The Planet Of The Apes, which saw all hope for peace between mankind and apekind dashed after a false flag-incited war. Plot details for the next pic are scant, but it’s assumed the film will see ape leader Caesar become the revered Moses-like figure from the original Planet Of The Apes series of the 1960s and ’70s. Matt Reeves is directing from a script co-written with Mark Bomback. Peter Chernin and Jenno Topping of Chernin Entertainment are producing, along with TSG Entertainment. Dylan Clark, Rick Jaffa and Amanda Silver are also producing.

Paunovic next will be seen in the indie Numb, which he stars in and produces. Numb premiered at the recent Busan International Film Festival. Paunovic had a recurring role during final season of Syfy’s Continuum, and on the first season of iZombie for the CW. He’s repped by Trisko Talent Management, Wright Entertainment and SMS Talent.

Newcomer Zachary Haven is joining Montecito Pictures and Warner Bros. Pictures’ Bastards. Starring Ed Helms, Owen Wilson, J.K. Simmons and Glenn Close, the film follows two brothers raised by their mother to believe their father died when they were kids. When they learn she lied and that he is still alive, they set out on a road trip to find him. It’s directed by Lawrence Sher in his feature directorial debut from a script by Justin Malen. Ivan Reitman, Ali Bell, Andrew Kosove, and Broderick Johnson are producing. Production started this month in Atlanta, and it’s set for release in November 2016. Haven is repped by the House of Representatives and Stagecoach Entertainment.