The Hollywood Reporter has learned that Woody Harrelson has joined the cast of the next installment in the "Planet of the Apes" franchise, titled "War for the Planet of the Apes." While overall plot details about the film, which sees "Dawn of..." director Matt Reeves returning for another film in the Fox franchise, it's been reported that Harrelson will play a villain character called the Colonel.

"War for..." will continue to tell the story of Caesar, the leader of the ape uprising performed via motion capture by Andy Serkis (who appeared as a real human being, Ulysses Klaue, in this summer's "Avengers: Age of Ultron"). Returning director Reeves will work from a script written by Mark Bomback, who also wrote "Dawn of the Planet of the Apes." THR notes that it's not yet been confirmed if any of the stars from 2014's "Dawn of the Planet of the Apes" will return for the film.

"War for the Planet of the Apes" is scheduled to open on July 14, 2017.