Fans of primates overthrowing human society, rejoice! A new Planet of the Apes movie has been confirmed and production starts next month.
Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes will follow on from the recent trilogy that concluded with 2017’s War for the Planet of the Apes, where – spoiler alert – ape leader Caesar died from the wounds of battle after freeing his species from oppression.
Along with a first-look image and title announcement, 20th Century Studios also announced several cast members for the upcoming sequel that looks to kickstart a new trilogy of ape action.
When will Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes be released?
Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes has been confirmed for a 2024 release.
Although no specific date has been announced yet, the previous three Apes movies have all been released in the summer months, so it’s likely that producers will go for a similar timeframe.
It’s expected that Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes will kickstart a new trilogy while also continuing the legacy of the recent reboots.
Who is in the cast of Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes?
Black Mirror actor Owen Teague has been cast in a lead role, the ape Cornelius.
The Witcher star Freya Allen and The Orville actor Peter Macon have also been added to the cast in undisclosed roles.
Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes will be directed by Wes Ball, who previously helmed The Maze Runner trilogy.
What will Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes be about?
Plot details remain largely a secret, but the title announcement did give us some clues.
A first-look image shows an ape on horseback, traversing a former city landscape that has fallen back into the hands of nature.
Set years after the conclusion of 2017’s War for the Planet of the Apes, this sequel trilogy will focus on a new ape protagonist, Cornelius, and the adjustment of the tribe to their new home and Caesar’s death at the hands of humans.
In a statement, 20th Century Studios president Steve Asbell described the movie as a ‘new chapter’ for the franchise.
‘With Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes we are privileged to continue the series’ tradition of imaginative, thought-provoking cinema, and can’t wait to share Wes’ extraordinary vision for this new chapter with audiences in 2024,’ Asbell said.
What happened in the reboot trilogy so far?
Rise of the Planet of the Apes told the origin story of Caesar, a young ape who would go on to become leader of the ape species. He gained enhanced cognition from a viral drug, before leading an uprising and breaking free from a primate sanctuary.
The 2014 sequel Dawn of the Planet of the Apes was set 10 years later and saw the outbreak of a flu that has killed most humans, leading to violent clashes between the apes and surviving human tribes.
War of the Planet of the Apes rounded out the trilogy in 2017, with the battle between humans and apes reaching a dramatic climax that saw the death of Caesar but the salvation of the apes.
What other Planet of the Apes films have been made?
The Planet of the Apes franchise has amassed more than $1.7 billion at the global box office across nine movies.
The first film in the series was released in 1968 and was followed by four sequels and two spin-off TV series.
Tim Burton helmed a 2001 reboot movie starring Helena Bonham Carter, Tim Roth and Mark Wahlberg, but it failed to generate enough interest to secure a follow-up.
In 2011, a reboot, Rise of the Planet of the Apes, scored commercial and critical success, with two sequels completing a trilogy that showed leader Caesar liberating his fellow apes.
The series is based on a 1963 novel by French writer Pierre Boulle.
The 24 best films of 2022 (so far).
All the Marvel movies ranked from worst to best.