The Wrap is reporting that Brian Cox has been cast as the main villain in next year’s Planet of the Apes prequel/remake/reboot/whatever Rise of the Apes. This will mark a reunion of sorts between Cox and director Rupert Wyatt, both of whom worked together on The Escapist.

Cox will play the villainous owner of a primate sanctuary who runs the facility without compassion for the animals that live there.
 
He joins a cast that includes James Franco, John Lithgow, Freida Pinto, and Andy Serkis. The story is set in modern-day San Francisco, where hideous genetic experiments are being carried out on primates. Serkis will of course play a renegade chimp, aided in a battle against Cox by Lithgo and Franco, who play father and son scientists and apparent species traitors.

Great, fantastic news and all that, the movie needs someone who can play a truly evil bastard as well as Cox, but let’s not forget how excited we all were to hear of Tim Roth’s turn as the villain in Burton’s remake…

Rise of the Apes is set for release on June 24, 2011.