The unlikely evolution of Andy Serkis’ Caesar in ‘Planet of the Apes’ – USA TODAY

Andy Serkis stars for a third time as ape leader Caesar in the sci-fi film 'War for the Planet of the Apes.' 20th Century Fox

Andy Serkis rides to his final journey as ape leader Caesar (with Amiah Miller as Nova) in 'War for the Planet of the Apes.'(Photo: 20th Century Fox)

When Andy Serkis saddlesup as horse-riding ape leader Caesar in War forthe Planet of the Apes (in theatersFriday), itmarksthe end of a six-year, three-film journey.

Playing the role via motion capture, which records an actor's subtlest movements to be enhanced withdigital technology,Serkis introducedCaesar as a laboratory chimp whose intelligence is greatly boosted by anAlzheimer's drug in 2011s Rise of the Planet of the Apes.

Andy Serkis arrives for the premiere of 'War for the Planet of the Apes' in New York.(Photo: Jason Szenes, EPA)

Caesar turned revolutionary leader fighting for ape freedom in 2014s Dawn of the Planet of the Apes, a battle thatcontinues in War.

To have that opportunity to play a character, aging through twists and turns, but also evolving, is fantastic. And hard to let go of, says Serkis, 53.

The actorshares hismemories fromeach performance:

Caesar (Andy Serkis) didn't realize he was an ape in 2011's 'Rise of the Planet of the Apes.'(Photo: Weta Digital)

Serkis modeled his performance as the realistic title character in Peter Jacksons 2005 film King Kongonsilverbackgorillas. But hetook a different approach playing young Caesar, who grew up from infancy in a human household run by caring lab assistant (James Franco).

The actorwas inspired by Oliver, a famous, human-like chimpwho died in 2012.

Oliver was bipedal, rarely walked on all fours. He would sit in chairs. His facial expressions were very human-like, says Serkis. People believed he was almost the missing link. I based Caesar on Oliver.

Young Caesar starts out joyous in his life, full of energy, often more hunched, andunaware he isn'thuman. The ape's youthful exuberancetook its toll.

It was killer playing him as a young chimp on the knees, the legs, the thighs, very physically tiring, says Serkis. In many ways, it became easier to play Caesaras he became more upright.

Caesar grew into a revolutionary ape leader in 2014's 'Dawn of the Planet of the Apes.'(Photo: 20th Century Fox)

Improvements in the performance-capture suit andhead-mounted camera (to chronicle facial expressions)used byvisual effects company Weta Digital allowed Serkis and director Matt Reeves to take the ape performance out of the studio and into natural environments inDawn.

Horsebackwas Caesar's mode of transport, even if the animalsdidn'tappreciate his ape-like war speech. Every single time, when I got the first word out, myhorse would bolt sideways to try to get out there as quickly as possible," Serkis says. "They did not like it. It made them skittish.

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Caesar grew more upright and used sign language as the leader of an advanced ape society. His human vocabulary grew, too.

But I wore a mouth guard to stop me from thoughtfully forming wordsand overly articulating, says Serkis.

Andy Serkis dealt with the outdoors and snow as Caesar in 'War for the Planet of the Apes.'(Photo: 20th Century Fox)

Serkis skipped the mouthguard in the third film, showing a human command of language, used sparingly."We didn't want it to become too casual," he says

Now fullyupright, Caesar's behavior is brutishin the third film because of the terrible way he'streated."He feels most human-like,"says Serkis. "But Caesar isthe most animalistic in terms of his rage."

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Further suit advancements allowed filmmakers to shoot outdoors in the snow-filled Canadian locations. Butthe form-fitting suits didn'tprovide much warmth.

"We were in the Canadian winter, so it would get very cold and the suits are unforgiving," says Serkis. "The snow and rain werevery tough."

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The unlikely evolution of Andy Serkis' Caesar in 'Planet of the Apes' - USA TODAY