By: Eric Eisenberg

A big part of the reason why Rise of the Planet of the Apes was so successful as a piece of storytelling was that it really knew where to focus the story’s attention: directly on Caesar (the intelligent chimp played by Andy Serkis). While James Franco‘s Will Rodman was certainly an important part of the narrative and put on a great performance of his own, the movie is rightfully and purely Caesar’s story, and it’s an amazing and compelling one at that.

So when it comes to the sequel, which is set to be directed by Matt Reeves (after Rupert Wyatt left the film believing he didn’t have enough time to create a quality product), we all hope that pattern will continue. While it would be nice to see Franco’s character in some capacity, it’s important that the strong focus remain on the titular apes. But now it seems as though the Academy Award-nominated actor might not be a part of the film at all.

MTV recently caught up with Franco and while squeezing in a question about Dawn of the Planet of the Apes the actor threw up a bunch of question marks regarding his involvement. Apparently there was a plan in place where he would have just made a small cameo in the movie, but he hasn’t heard anything about it since Reeves took over the project back in October. Said Franco,

“I was going to be a small part of the next one. There was a moment when Rupert Wyatt was going to direct the second one. A lot of the human characters that were in the first movie were dead in the sequel that Rupert was going to direct. But there was one scene, between Caesar and my character, maybe even just like on a video that was left behind, but then a lot of things happened, like [former Fox co-chairman] Tom Rothman who was a big part of the first movie, left. Now Rupert’s not a part of it so I don’t know. My guess is I won’t be in it. Nobody’s talked to me since Rupert left.”

Would you be upset to not see Will back in Dawn of the Planet of the Apes?

Source: Cinema Blend