Actress Freida Pinto (Slumdog Millionaire) will star opposite James Franco in 20th Century Fox’s Planet of the Apes prequel, Rise of the Apes, a Fox rep confirmed to EW.com. Pinto will play a primatologist named Caroline, while Franco is playing a scientist. Set in present-day San Francisco, Rise of the Apes depicts how mankind’s experimentation with genetic engineering ultimately results in a war between humans and intelligent apes. John Lithgow has also joined the cast and will play Franco’s father. Apes, which is being directed by Rupert Wyatt (The Escapist), is scheduled for release on June 24, 2011.

Source: EW.com

Filming will begin in April on the project, which began development in 2008. Can’t wait to see it!!

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Filmfare nominated John Abraham (Dhoom), Filmfare winner Arjun Rampal (Rock On!!), and Ashmit Patel (Banaras) are reportedly starring in it and BAFTA nominated Freida Pinto (Slumdog Millionaire) is rumored to be in its cast.

Directed by Andy Armstrong (Planet of the Apes), written by Kevin D. Ward, cinematography by Joao Fernandes (Conversations with God), and produced by Edge Filmworks, it is slated to be released on February three next. Its tagline is: “Betrayal is a contact sport…” Its other cast includes Nina Dobrev (Merry Madagascar), MTV nominated Shannyn Sossamon (A Knight’s Tale), and Leslie Mann (Knocked Up). Filming locations of this “R” rated dark comedy are Tampa and Ybor City, both in Florida (USA).

Its story revolves around underworld, politics, crime, and stealing, reports suggest.

Indo-American statesman Rajan Zed has welcomed this teaming-up of Hollywood and Bollywood and hopes that these collaborations would become more commonplace in the future.

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In a recent interview, the actress who denied playing the Bond girl talked about bagging two prestigious Hollywood projects.

The story of ‘War of the Gods’ revolves around a young warrior Theseus, who leads his men into battle with the immortal Greek gods to defeat evil and the powerful elder gods of the Titans in order to save mankind.

Freida Pinto will play Phaedra, an oracle priestess who must join Theseus. Phaedra joins Theseus to prevent the cataclysmic war from erupting.

The film will be produced by Gianni Nunnari of Hollywood Gang Prods, Mark Canton of Atmosphere Entertainment and Relativity topper Ryan Kavanaugh.

Rourke made a successful comeback in Hollywood last year with `The Wrestler` after a gap of ten years. He will be next seen with Robert Downey Jr in `Iron Man 2`.

Pinto shot to international fame after her role as Latika, the childhood sweetheart of Jamaal, the urchin boy, who goes on to win USD 10 million in a TV game show in Danny Boyle`s multi-Oscar-winning film.

She has completed shooting Woody Allen`s `You Will Meet A Tall Dark Stranger` opposite Josh Brolin and Naomi Watts, and Israeli film `Miral`, which has been directed by Julian Schnabel. Pinto plays the title part in the movie.

The word is out, and the Hollywood press has cranked-up the buzz blaster: Freida Pinto has landed her biggest and best role to date.  She will play Phaedra, the hero’s oracle, in War of the Gods, a Greek mythological epic currently in pre-production.

One of many in a sudden flurry of mythological mega-movies that includes The Lightning Thief andClash of the Titans, Relativity Media’s $100 million War of the Gods currently is scheduled to hit theatres in time for the 2011 summer blockbuster season.  Determined to make the film live up to its “epic” description in every way, director Tarsem Singh has assembled an elite crew of screenwriters and cinematographers, including seasoned veterans from the instant classic 300. Singh recently told the Hollywood press that, apropos of his subject matter, he plans to give his larger-than-life adventure the look and feel of an Italian renaissance painting, a setting well-suited to Pinto’s timeless beauty.

Henry Cavill will headline as Theseus, champion of the human crusade against vengeful gods and demi-gods, who threaten to destroy all of mankind.  Pinto co-stars as Phaedra, oracle priestess and hero’s inspiration—a perfect role for the twenty-five year old star millions of men worship as a goddess.

The role marks another evolutionary step in a spectacular career that has rocketed the Indian beauty from obscurity to worldwide super-stardom in the blink of a well-curled eyelash.  After several years as an extremely successful international model, Pinto made her big screen debut in Oscar-winning Slumdog Millionaire. Beguiling critics and audiences alike, Pinto became one of Hollywood’s premier “It” girls for 2009, appearing in People Magazine’s list of the world’s most beautiful people, and landing high top several prestigious lists of the world’s best dressed women.

Since she lit-up the red carpet in the spring of 2009, Pinto has earned leading roles with some of the industry’s premier directors.  Pinto recently completed production of You Will Meet a Tall Dark Stranger, a Woody Allen piece that features a typically quirky ensemble cast including Anthony Hopkins, Antonio Banderas, Naomi Watts, Anupam Kher, and Josh Brolin.  She also completed excellent work on Julian Schnabel’s Miral, a poignant historical film about Hind Husseini, founder of  the Dar Al-Tifl orphanage in war-torn Jerusalem during Isreal’s  1948 partition from Palestine.

Although Pinto wisely has devoted the majority of her time and attention to honing her considerable acting talent, she has not altogether abandoned modelling.  In February, 2010, she graced the cover of Elle magazine, and industry insiders report that she soon will ink a deal making her “the new face of L’Oreal.”

You Will Meet a Tall Dark Stranger will be released starting September 23 next, according to reports.

Pinto is said to have completed her shooting for this romance film, which also stars Oscar nominated Naomi Watts (21 Grams), Oscar winner Anthony Hopkins (The Silence of the Lambs), Oscar nominated Josh Brolin (Milk), Golden Globe nominated Antonio Banderas (The Mask of Zorro), and Filmfare winner Anupam Kher (Wake Up Sid).

This film is about a family, love lives of its members and how they try to solve their issues. Directed and written by Oscar winner Allen (Hannah and Her Sisters), it was filmed in United Kingdom.

Indo-American statesman Rajan Zed, in a statement in Nevada (USA) today, said that cinema of India was now receiving the well deserved respect internationally and even acclaimed directors like Allen felt the urge of working with Indian actors.

...Julian Schnabel is trimmed down, but still sporting PJs. He brought Rula Jabreal, author of the book “Miral,” and her daughter with him, both visiting from Jerusalem. Schnabel’s just now finishing his film of “Miral,” starring “Slumdog Millionaire’s” Freida Pinto as the title character. You think Freida Pinto is a beauty? Wait until everyone meets Rula Jabreal! Whichever film company releases “Miral” will have publicity opportunities galore. P.S. Schnabel says it’s his best movie yet. After “The Diving Bell and the Butterfly” and “Before Night Falls,” that’s saying a lot…

Is there anything you can say about the film you are preparing to shoot this summer, other than that it takes place in London again and stars Naomi Watts?

You know the full cast, right? Anthony Hopkins, Freida Pinto, Josh Brolin, Antonio Banderas. The cast is great. It’s a comedy-drama, I can tell you that. It’s a comic film but comic in the way that either Vicky Cristina or Hannah and Her Sisters was. It’s not comic like Bananas. This is real, with a serious side to it but hopefully a reasonable amount of laughs. Hopefully.

Movie: Drama
Angels & Demons
Obsessed
Slumdog Millionaire
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Twilight

Movie Actor: Drama
Brad Pitt- The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Channing Tatum- Fighting
Dev Patel- Slumdog Millionaire
Hugh Jackman- Australia
Robert Pattinson -Twilight

Movie Actress: Drama
Angelina Jolie- Changeling
Beyonce Knowles- Obsessed
Freida Pinto- Slumdog Millionaire
Kristen Stewart- Twilight
Nicole Kidman- Australia

Movie: Fresh Face Female
Ashley Greene – Twilight
Frida Pinto – Slumdog Millionaire
Lynn Collins – X-Men Origins: Wolverine
Nikki Reed – Twilight
Emily Osment – Hannah Montana: The Movie

Movie: Fresh-Face Male
Chris Pine- Star Trek
Dev Patel- Slumdog Millionaire
Sam Worthington- Terminator Salvation
Taylor Kitsch – X-Men Origins: Wolverine
Taylor Lautner – Twilight

Movie: Liplock
Kristen Stewart & Robert Pattinson- Twilight
Frida Pinto & Dev Patel- Slumdog Millionaire
Vanessa Hudgens & Zac Efron- High School Musical 3: Senior Year
Miley Cyrus & Lucas Till- Hannah Montana: The Movie
Owen Wilson & Marley- Marley & Me

Good luck to Freida & Dev, and all the other nominees. If you would like to cast your vote, this is how:
http://www.teenchoiceawards.com/webdev/vote-movies.php