I was one of the lucky reporters that attended a special preview of “Dawn of the Planet of the Apes” (in theaters July 11) at Fox Studios a couple of weeks ago. Around 20 minutes of the film were presented by Ceaser himself, motion-capture extraordinaire Andy Serkis.

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After witnessing the jaw-dropping footage I told the actor -and director of one of the two upcoming “Jungle Book” adaptations- that now this one was my most anticipated movie of the year, dethroning Christoper Nolan’s “Interstellar.” I didn’t say it to get his sympathy or a high five -although that was pretty cool- but to express the genuine excitement of seeing the evolution -no pun intended- of one of the most compelling characters recently portrayed on film.

Some glimpses of the material shown have made it into this trailer, a great follow-up to the amazing first teaser released months ago. If you are a fan of “Rise of the Planet of the Apes” this sequel has to be at least your most anticipated film of the Summer. I am confident that Professor X and his mutants would understand.

“A growing nation of genetically evolved apes led by Caesar is threatened by a band of human survivors of the devastating virus unleashed a decade earlier. They reach a fragile peace, but it proves short-lived, as both sides are brought to the brink of a war that will determine who will emerge as Earth’s dominant species.”