Apes set for UK première

Planet of the Apes is a remake of the 1968 film

Stars of the highly anticipated Planet of the Apes movie are set to turn out to celebrate the UK première of the film on Tuesday.

British actress Helena Bonham Carter will be joined by US star Mark Wahlberg at the celebrity screening at the Odeon, Leicester Square in London.

Planet of the Apes is a remake of the 1968 classic movie starring Charlton Heston and the late Roddy McDowell.

Helena Bonham Carter plays the friendly Ari

Directed by Tim Burton, it sees Wahlberg as an astronaut land on a strange planet inhabited by hostile talking apes.

Bonham Carter however is a friendly chimp. She and a band of human rebels try to help Wahlberg evade the ape warriors and discover the secret of the enslaved humans.

Effects

The movie goes on general release in the UK on 17 August but opened in the US on 27 July to big box office success.

It shot to number one in its debut weekend after record takings of $69.9m (£49.1m) - America's biggest non-holiday opener.

Mark Wahlberg takes on the role first played by Charlton Heston

The figure reflected the excitement generated about the movie ahead of release.

Unfortunately, public interest has been on the wane since.

In its second week in the US, takings for Planet of the Apes fell by 60% and another 52% last week.

Still, enthusiasm about the remake is very much on a high in the UK.

Media coverage has been considerable for some months ahead of release.

As well as nostalgia appeal, the film boasts millions of dollars worth of the latest special effects.

And then there is the cameo appearance by the - now legendary - Heston to look forward to.

Other stars who feature in the movie include Tim Roth, Kris Kristofferson and Estella Warren, who is also expected at Tuesday's event.