Planet of the Apes (1968 film) and Linda Harrison, played Cornelius and Zira. This test footage is included on several DVD releases of the film, as well as the documentary "Behind the Planet of the Apes". Linda Harrison, at the time the girlfriend of studio chief Richard Zanuck, went on to play Nova in the 1968 film and its first sequel, and had a cameo in Tim Burton's "Planet of the Apes" more than 30 years later, which was also produced by Zanuck. Although Harrison often opined that the producers had always had her in mind for the role of Nova, they had, in fact, considered
Planet of the Apes (2001 film) in the series, "Planet of the Apes" (1968) and "Beneath the Planet of the Apes" (1970) as George Taylor and Nova, respectively. 20th Century Fox president Craig Baumgarten was impressed with Adam Rifkin's filmmaking with "Never on Tuesday". In 1988, Rifkin was brought in the studio to pitch ideas for films. Rifkin, being a fan of the 1968 "Planet of the Apes" felt it was best to continue the film series. "Having independent film experience, I promised I could write and direct a huge-looking film for a reasonable price and budget, like "Aliens"." Fox commissioned Rifkin to write what amounted