It’s official without an official announcement being made: Freida Pinto has been cast in the Planet of the Apes reboot, Rise of the Apes, where she’ll join fellow cast members James Franco and John Lithgow. Earth’s Mightiest had the opportunity to catch up with the actress ever so briefly to discuss the film.

Pinto, who has just wrapped production of Tarsem Singh’s Greek Gods adventure Immortals and who became an instant star with Slumdog Millionaire, reflects on what she looks for in the characters she chooses to play, and her general feelings about Rise of the Apes.

The film deals with a scientist (James Franco), who, in his attempts to find a cure for Alzheimer’s, which his father (John Lithgow) is suffering from, attempts genetic experimentations on an ape named Caesar, inadvertently sets into motion a series of events that will result in the downfall of humanity. Pinto plays a primatologist named Caroline.

“What I try to do with my characters is to bring something different to all of them. Sometimes just being yourself can bring out the uniqueness of whatever it is. For Rise of the Apes, I auditioned for it without reading the entire script. I don’t remember when it was that I watched Planet of the Apes, but it was ages ago. When I read what the story was about – and the idea of the film is out there – I really thought that, yes, it was a big budget film and all of that, but it really had a soul in the kind of story that they really wanted to put out there. It’s a battle between humans and apes with humans trying to make themselves superior by exploiting another animal.”

“I just thought that there was a lot of soul to it. When I read the script, finally, after auditioning, I found myself even more drawn to it. I also like films with a lot of animals in it, and what happens to animals really does break my heart.”

Rise of the Apes is scheduled to reach theatres in June of 2011.

As reported earlier, Freida Pinto was rumored to join the Planet of the Apes prequel Rise of the Apes. It has now been confirmed that both Freida and actor John Lithgow are, indeed, joining the movie starring James Franco.

Rupert Wyatt will direct the feature, which focuses 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.

Lithgow will play Franco’s Alzheimer’s-stricken father. Pinto is the movie’s female lead, the primatologist Caroline.

Rise of the Apes, set to begin filming in British Columbia next month, is coming to theaters on June 24, 2011.

Wyatt will direct from a script by Amanda Silver and Rick Jaffa, who will produce with Chernin Entertainment, while Peter Jackson’s visual effects house WETA digital will render photo-realistic apes, rather than costumed actors, for the first time in the franchise.

Both Don Cheadle and Freida Pinto seem to have been offered roles in 20th Century Fox’s upcoming Planet of the Apes reboot Rise of the Apes. This news comes from trusted horror site Bloody-Disgusting (via Movie Web), who clearly state that they have not yet confirmed their source’s information. Which means that this is still a rumor at this stage, and shouldn’t be taken as fact.

If this news is true, the two actors would join the already-announced James Franco in the film. Rise of the Apes is being described as an origin story set in present day San Francisco. It will revolve around the aftermath of a scientist’s genetic engineering gone wrong, and will depict the war between man and ape in a fight for supremacy.

Rise of the Apes comes to theaters June 24th, 2011 and stars James Franco. The film is directed by Rupert Wyatt.

According to Variety, The Weinstein Co. has acquired North American rights to Miral, directed by Julian Schnabel.

The film centers on a real-life orphanage established in Jerusalem by Palestinian woman Hind Husseini (Hiam Abbass) following the 1948 creation of Israel. Freida Pinto stars as the title character who is sent to the orphanage in 1978, and later teaches at a refugee camp where she falls for an activist.

Willem Dafoe and Vanessa Redgrave co-star. Palestinian writer Rula Jebreal adapted the screenplay from her own novel.

Miral is expected to screen at the Venice Film Festival before TWC releases the film later this year in time for an awards push, which comes as no surprise considering its principals’ high-profile pedigree and the film’s politically charged subject matter.

“It is the first film I am involved in that shows the ‘other side’ of the Israel-Palestine conflict,” Harvey Weinstein told Variety. “As a staunch supporter of Israel, I thought this would be a movie I would have a hard time wrapping my head around. However, meeting Rula moved me to open my heart and mind and I hope we can do the same with audiences worldwide.”

Jon Kilik (Babel) produced the picture, which Pathe holds worldwide rights to, having sold the movie in several other international territories.

Freida Pinto is one of three new faces for L’Oreal Paris’ campaign for the new Elnett Satin hairspray! The other ladies featured in the stunning new ads are Diane Kruger and Laetitia Casta. This is probably the most gorgeous Freida’s ever looked in a campaign by the beauty brand, so be sure to check out both the print ad and the outtake from the official site. Enjoy!

According to IANS (Indo-Asian News Service), Freida Pinto’s spokesperson has rubbished reports about the actress marrying Dev Patel. Earlier, there were reports that the two were spotted enquiring about a wedding cake at a bakery and making arrangements to fly it to India for their forthcoming wedding.

“These rumours are complete rubbish and baseless. There is not even an ounce of truth in it.” Freida’s spokesperson, Divya Tejuja, told IANS.

The two met in 2008 on the sets of Slumdog Millionaire and started dating some time later. But they kept their romance low-profile and didn’t appear in public together until late last year.

The first teaser poster from You Will Meet a Tall Dark Stranger has been released, as have several new stills from the movie. Three of them feature Freida Pinto looking stunning in her role as Dia and they have all been added to the gallery.

Big thanks to the great Jess of Isabel Lucas Online for the HQ stills! A preview of one of the stills added can be seen above. Click on it to see all the new photos!

The very first still of Freida Pinto as Phaedra in Immortals has been released! It’s featured in one of the on set-interviews with director Tarsem Singh by IAmRogue.com. The picture is supposedly taken during the first scene Freida filmed for the movie (a sex scene with Henry Cavill’s Theseus). Be sure to click on the preview above to see it in full size, a bigger one will be added when available. Enjoy!

As mentioned before, the world premiere of Woody Allen’s latest movie You Will Meet a Tall Dark Stranger took place yesterday at the Cannes Film Festival. Freida Pinto was not in attendance (as she’s busy filming Immortals) but co-stars Naomi Watts, Josh Brolin, Lucy Punch, Gemma Jones and Woody Allen were there to promote it.

It’s been given mixed reviews, with some very good and some bad as well. You can read summaries and links to reviews here and I’ve featured a quote on Freida’s role below. Stay tuned for more information about the movie.

Brolin, Watts and Punch stand out in the film and Freida Pinto shows some true talent in her first role since Slumdog Millionaire where she was more the mysterious, pretty newcomer.

Unfortunately Freida Pinto won’t attend this year’s Cannes International Film Festival, due to shooting commitments. She was expected to walk the red carpet with the stars of You Will Meet a Tall Dark Stranger, the new movie directed by Woody Allen. Her spokesperson had this to say about Freida’s no-show:

“This is to confirm that Freida Pinto unfortunately will not be attending the Cannes film festival as she is shooting for Immortals in Canada. Her film You Will Meet a Tall Dark Stranger directed by Woody Allen will be premiering at Cannes.”