Trailer: Dawn of the Planet of the Apes

Caesar, played by Andy Serkis, in Dawn of the Planet of the Apes. Photo/AP.

The worldwide trailer for Dawn of the Planet of the Apes has been released ahead of the film's debut this winter.

Matt Reeves is directing the sequel - a follow-up to the 2011 Planet of the Apes reboot, Rise of the Planet of the Apes.

The storyline does not pick up immediately after Rise, which saw the end of humanity's reign on earth after apes took over in the wake of a devastating virus. Instead, it continues a decade later.

The new clip opens with a bleak scene showing the apes trekking through a forest on horseback. A gruff, ominous chant of "Apes, together, strong" can be heard, before the first humans arrive on the scene.

War seems inevitable but Jason Clarke's Malcolm is determined to find a peaceful solution.

"This is your home and I don't want to take it away from you, I promise, but the people are coming - soldiers. Is any of this making any sense to you?" he asks the first evolved ape Caesar.

Andy Serkis' powerful character replies: "Home, family, future."

But if the trailer is anything to go by, there's plenty of violent fighting to be done first to determine who will emerge as Earth's dominant species.

Gary Oldman, Judy Greer and Keri Russell all star but James Franco will not be reprising his role as scientist Will Rodman.

- Independent