To break up some of the monotony between your third hot dog and second viewing of Independence Day while you wait for this evening's fireworks, 20th Century Fox has released a brief new 4th of July-themed Dawn of the Planet of the Apes trailer.  It’s an excellent piece of marketing, as it seamlessly blends the celebration of our American holiday with the dire future of our country glimpsed in the Apes sequel.  An excerpt from President John F. Kennedy’s Independence Day speech from 1962 plays over terrifying footage of the titular apes taking a stand in a nearly abandoned metropolis, and the result is quite chilling.  Early word on the film is terrific, and I can’t wait to experience the pic myself next weekend.

Hit the jump to watch the new Dawn of the Planet of the Apes trailer, and have a happy Fourth everybody!  Directed by Matt Reeves, Apes stars Andy Serkis, Jason Clarke, Gary Oldman, Keri Russell, Tobey Kebbell, Kodi Smit-McPhee, and Judy GreerDawn of the Planet of the Apes opens in theaters on July 11th.

Here’s the official synopsis for Dawn of the Planet of the Apes:

A growing nation of genetically evolved apes led by Caesar is threatened by a band of human survivors of the devastating virus unleashed a decade earlier.  They reach a fragile peace, but it proves short-lived, as both sides are brought to the brink of a war that will determine who will emerge as Earth’s dominant species.

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