Rejoice, fans of Planet of the Apes! Today is a wonderful day as we finally get our first glimpse of the highly anticipated new installment, Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes. The film's development began in April 2019 and was officially announced in December of the same year, with director Wes Ball leading the way.
Despite the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, much progress was made on the script. Casting for the film began in June 2022, soon after the completion of the script. In August, Owen Teague (known for his roles in The Stand and Black Mirror) was chosen for the lead role. In the subsequent months, the film's title and other cast members were also unveiled. This exciting project marks the fourth installment in the Planet of the Apes reboot franchise and features talented actors such as Freya Allan (from The Witcher), Peter Macon (from The Orville), Eka Darville (from The Originals), and Kevin Durand (from The Strain). Be sure to check out the incredible trailer below.
"Director Wes Ball brings a fresh perspective to the sprawling, futuristic franchise inhabited by apes as the dominant species coexisting harmoniously while humans exist in the shadows," states the official movie synopsis. "Amidst the rise of a new oppressive ape leader, a young ape embarks on a perilous journey that challenges his understanding of history, leading him to make decisions that will shape the future for both apes and humans."
In the original Planet of the Apes trilogy, Roddy McDowall and David Watson portrayed Cornelius, a character who was married to Dr. Zira, another significant figure within the Apes lore. Although the reboot films draw heavily from the original movies and novels, there is no direct link between them.
Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes is scheduled to hit theaters May 24, 2024.
Editor's P/S
The Planet of the Apes franchise has always been a captivating one, and the upcoming installment, Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes, looks to continue that trend. The first trailer for the film was recently released, and it looks absolutely stunning. The visuals are breathtaking, and the story seems to be an epic adventure that will leave fans on the edge of their seats.
One of the things that makes the Planet of the Apes franchise so unique is its exploration of the relationship between humans and apes. In the original films, the apes were portrayed as a peaceful and intelligent species, while the humans were often depicted as being more savage and warlike. This dynamic is reversed in the reboot films, with the apes now being the dominant species and the humans being forced to live in the shadows. It will be interesting to see how this dynamic continues to play out in Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes.
