Gary Oldman has joined the growing cast of 20th Century Fox's highly-anticipated sequel Dawn of the Planet of the Apes for director Matt Reeves.

The actor will portray Dreyfus, the leader of the human resistance that springs up after the apes have risen to power. The story is set 15 years after Rise of the Planet of the Apes, centering on a group of San Francisco scientists trying to survive in this new world overrun by the apes. The plot also focuses on Caesar (Andy Serkis), who is trying to maintain control over his kingdom. Jason Clarke and Kodi Smit-McPhee also star.

Matt Reeves is directing from a screenplay by Mark Bomback, with Rick Jaffa, Amanda Silver, Peter Chernin, and Dylan Clark producing. The studio is currently eyeing a spring production start.