Exclusive Interview with Jamie Harris on 'Rise of the Apes'

[Jan 10, 2011] - Jamie Harris plays a supporting role in The Green Hornet as one of the film's bad guys - a one-eyed bad guy, actually - but Green Hornet won't be the British actor's last big action film of 2011. No, he's also a part of the prequel to the Planet of the Apes films: Rise of the Apes. Starring this year's Oscar host, James Franco, Rise of the Apes is "set in present day San Francisco, the film is a reality-based cautionary tale, a science fiction/science fact blend, where man's own experiments with genetic engineering lead to the development of intelligence in apes and the onset of a war for supremacy." [synopsis courtesy of 20th Century Fox] In our exclusive interview at The Green Hornet's premiere, Harris talked about working on the prequel directed by Rupert Wyatt.

So was it less hectic on the Rise of the Apes set than it was on The Green Hornet?

Jamie Harris: "Oh, yeah, well that was different. I was beaten up by 300 apes and Andy Serkis is phenomenal. But he really gets into character so he's dragging you around as the main ape. You're literally being thrown around everywhere and I was trying to say, 'Andy, it's a rehearsal.' But no, I was just being thrown around. So that was different, but equally as exciting."

He's not dressed as an ape as he's doing this.

Jamie Harris: "No. He has this suit on with all these green dots. But he has this...I mean, the first time he wails as the ape, it's very disconcerting. You literally thought this character was screaming at you. And then all these other guys do all these ape movements. It's quite disconcerting."

Would it have been less had they been in an ape suit?

Jamie Harris: "I would have just laughed. To see someone in an ape suit seems a bit silly, doesn't it? It's all very furry."

What do you think about them bringing the Planet of the Apes franchise back? Is it time?

Jamie Harris: "Yeah, I think it is. Also, the script is an amazing story. It's told very differently. It's a very humane feel to it. So yeah, I think so. Although, you know, the '60s - they were great movies. But now I think with technology and also the storyline was much more heartfelt."

And it's a prequel.

Jamie Harris: "Yes. And if I say anything more I'll probably get lynched. I'll get put on my own little island somewhere, which should be another movie. That will be like a documentary - me alone on an island."

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Rise of the Apes hits theaters on June 24, 2011.