Gary Oldman has joined the 'Dawn Of The Planet Of The Apes' cast.

'The Dark Knight Rises' actor has become the latest star to sign on to Matt Reeves' sci-fi sequel, set 15 years after the events of the James Franco-fronted 2011 film, 'Rise of the Planet of the Apes'.

Gary will play Dreyfus, a man who leads a human colony struggling to survive in San Francisco after society has been eliminated by the ape-borne flu seen spreading at the end of the last movie.

He joins returning cast member Andy Serkis, who is reprising his role as CGI-enhanced intelligent ape Ceasar, the leader of the monkey rebellion.

'Zero Dark Thirty' actor Jason Clarke and 'The Road' star Kodi Smit-McPhee also recently joined the film's line-up.

James Franco has denied being involved with 'Dawn of the Planet of the Apes', claiming his cameo role was scrapped after Rupert Wyatt - who directed 'Rise of the Planet of the Apes' - pulled out of directing the film.

He said: ''I was going to be a small part of the next one... There was one scene, between Caesar and my character, maybe even just like on a video that was left behind, but then a lot of things happened, like [former Fox co-chairman] Tom Rothman who was a big part of the first movie, left.

''Now Rupert's not a part of it so I don't know. My guess is I won't be in it. Nobody's talked to me since Rupert left.''

'Dawn Of The Planet Of The Apes' begins filming this month in New Orleans for a May 2014 release.