Critics may be as shocked by this as Charlton Heston was to spot the Statue of Liberty in the original film - but the remake of Planet of the Apes appears to be a hit.

Three thousand fans packed Leicester Square in London for the UK premiere last night and were rewarded with a 20 minute walkabout by its star, Mark Wahlberg. The leading ladies, Helena Bonham Carter and Estella Warren, also arrived at the star-studded screening.

Bonham Carter, who submitted to four hours of make-up each day to play an ape princess, looked rather more glamorous in real life, although she teamed her silver sequinned skirt and top with a banana-shaped handbag.

She admitted that the arduous costume requirements had put her off a sequel. "I spent 240 hours of my life sitting in make-up. I'm not sure I really want to do that again."

Warren, who plays a slave girl in the movie, looked similarly glamorous but with more of a high street approach: she wore a black polo neck, coupled with a black and white zig-zag design skirt which she picked up in Australia "some years ago".

The 22-year-old had little acting experience before landing the role and was amazed to work with big names on the film. "I really couldn't believe it when I got cast, it was such a great surprise because Tim Burton [the director] has such stature," she said. "It was such a great schooling."

Others at the premiere in London included the actors Christopher Lee, Winona Ryder and Timothy Spall, and pop stars Nicole Appleton and Liam Gallagher. Despite mixed reviews, Burton's remake of the much-loved film took $70m in the US in its opening weekend alone.

Wahlberg takes on Heston's role as an astronaut who lands on a strange planet where hostile talking apes have enslaved all humans. Tim Roth and Kris Kristofferson also star.

The 1968 Planet of the Apes cost £4m and spawned four sequels and two television series. It remains to be seen whether the remake, which cost more than £75m, can repeat that success.