James Franco Says He Won't Be in 'Dawn of the Planet of the Apes'

James Franco has a reputation for doing a bit of everything (movies, college classes, General Hospital appearances, Oscar hosting gigs), but if what the actor told MTV is true, it looks like Franco has one less thing on his plate — Dawn of the Planet of the Apes. After playing the human lead in Rise of the Planet of the Apes, Franco is citing a change in Fox management and a subsequent lack of communication for why he won't be back in the sequel.

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.

Well, that's a shame. Dawn of the Planet of the Apes may take place in a world that's seen the human population diminished by that nasty plague, but a scene or two between Andy Serkis' Caesar and Franco's Will would be a nice touch. That final scene of Rise of the Planet of the Apes ("Caesar is home") still gives me chills. Without Franco and without director Rupert Wyatt, I hope Dawn of the Planet of the Apes can recapture the magic of the last one.

With or without Franco, Dawn of the Planet of the Apes is expected to hit theaters on May 23, 2014.