First trailer for Dawn of the Planet of the Apes

Don't know about you, but over here we're feverishly excited about 'Dawn of the Planet of the Apes'.

And this first clip sets a seriously chilling tone – mankind on the brink, pitted against both a deadly virus and a deadly foe ready to rise up in their place.

Helmed by Matt Reeves, who took charge on the claustrophobic disaster movie 'Cloverfield', initial thoughts are that this looks to be a worthy sequel to Rupert Wyatt's first film.

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No one expected much from another crack at rebooting the classic 'Planet of the Apes' movies, particularly after Tim Burton's egregious take on the subject matter in 2001.

But Wyatt's film was thrilling from the off, notably Andy Serkis's arresting mo-cap performance as Caesar, the intelligent, genetically-enhanced ape raised among humans then betrayed.

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Gary Oldman, Jason Clarke and Keri Russell are survivors of the apocalypse, teetering on the edge of war, and Clarke's howl into the ape compound sounds like a last ditch attempt at negotiation.

Best of luck with that...

Also starring Kodi Smit-McPhee, and Judy Greer as the ape Cornelia and Toby Kebbell as Koba, 'Dawn of the Planet of the Apes' is due on July 17.