Keri Russell talks ‘Dawn of the Planet of the Apes,’ playing with the baby
While promoting this summer’s Dawn of the Planet of the Apes, star Keri Russell discussed her role and one of the things which attracted her to the film.
“This is the sad, sad truth. So I read the script and I was like, ‘I get to play with the baby ape. That’s the best scene and I get to do it.’ We were out in this idyllic place in Canada and we’ve about to shoot that scene… no baby ape,” Russell said with disappointment to Movie Fanatic at Wonder Con.
“No baby ape, not even one to look at! I said, ‘Where is the best part about doing this movie?!’ They told me to just imagine it!”
Russell’s character, and onscreen husband played by Jason Clarke, see the humans and apes living together.
“She was a nurse and she was helping fight the virus for the remaining humans left and I kind of just go on this adventure,” Russell says to Zap 2 It.
“I think the main thing for my character in terms of the apes is because the story picks up about 10 years later and the virus has killed most of the human population, people really have a fear of the apes. And I think because I had such intimate involvement with the virus, I know it has nothing to do with them and they didn’t create it, so I think I’m much more open to the bridging of working it out.”
She adds of director Matt Reeves, “He’s such a good fit for this. Matt has such a vulnerable sensibility and is interested in intricate, character-driven pieces, and I think that’s what he laid into this movie.”
Dawn stars Clarke, Russell, Andy Serkis, Gary Oldman, Toby Kebbell, Kodi Smit-McPhee, and Judy Greer.
Dawn of the Planet of the Apes opens in 3D on July 11th.
