Has Rupert Wyatt Dropped Out Of Directing The Rise Of The Planet Of The Apes Sequel?

If Deadline is to be believed the sequel to Rise Of The Planet Of The Apes – rumoured to be called Dawn Of The Planet Of The Apes – may have just suffered a major setback, with the original film’s director backing off the project.

Rupert Wyatt has allegedly done a Gary Ross (director of The Hunger Games) and declined to helm the sequel fearing that the studio-imposed release date of May 2014 makes the production turnaround too tight.

If true this is a major shame as Wyatt was a major reason for the success of Rise, turning a film few had high expectation for into a critical and box office success, earning $483 million worldwide (and taking number one place in SFX’s list of Top SF and Fantasy Movies 2011).