Brian Cox (Doctor Who, RED) is reportedly in final negotiations to join the cast of the Rupert Wyatt (The Escapist) directed Planet of the Apes prequel, Rise of the Apes. If cast, Cox would play the nefarious owner of a primate sanctuary who runs the facility with no compassion for the animals that live there.

TheWrap reports that Cox would joins the recently cast Andy Serkis (Burke and Hare), John Lithgow (Dexter), Freida Pinto (Slumdog Millionaire), along with James Franco (Spider-Man) in the lead role.

The film will focus on a scientist (Franco) who has been working on a cure for Alzheimer’s that is being tested on apes. The test subject named Caesar evolves rapidly, and the scientist takes him home to live with him and protects him from cruel doctors.

Rise of the Apes is slated to hit theaters on June 24th, 2011.