Rise of the Planet of the Apes: Unveiling the Release Date, Cast, Plot, and More

The 1968 film adaptation of Pierre Boulle's 1963 book La Planète des singes, also known as Planet of the Apes or Monkey Planet, achieved both critical acclaim and financial success. This success led to numerous follow-up films and spinoffs. Following the six films in the original series released between 1968 and 2001, a reboot series was announced, which reimagined the story of the chimpanzee Caesar. The first film in the reboot series, Rise of the Planet of the Apes, was released in 2011, followed by Dawn of the Planet of the Apes and War for the Planet of the Apes.

After Disney acquired 20th Century Fox in April 2019, the studio announced that they would produce more Planet of the Apes movies. In September 2022, it was revealed that the title of the fourth installment in the reboot series would be Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes. Fans will have the opportunity to return to the ape-filled world on the big screen once again in 2024, marking a wait of almost seven years since the last film. Here's what we know about the highly anticipated upcoming movie.

Editor's Note: This piece was updated on November 2, 2023.

Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes

Release Date: May 24, 2024

Director: Wes Ball

Cast: Freya Allan, Kevin Durand, Dichen Lachman, William H. Macy, Owen Teague, Peter Macon, Sara Wiseman

Main Genre: Sci-Fi

Genres: Action, Sci-Fi

Writers: Patrick Aison, Josh Friedman, Rick Jaffa, Amanda Silver

When Does 'Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes' Come Out?

The highly anticipated film, Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes, is set to hit theaters on Memorial Day weekend, specifically on May 24, 2024. Fans have been eagerly awaiting this release, which will come almost seven years after the previous installment, War for the Planet of the Apes.

Currently, three other major tentpole films are scheduled to open on that same weekend including John Krasinski's fantasy adventure comedy If starring Ryan Reynolds, the animated Garfield movie starring Chris Pratt, and George Miller's Furiosa, a prequel to the Oscar-winning Mad Max: Fury Road, starring Anya Taylor-Joy and Chris Hemsworth. It is likely that one or two, or even all three, of these titles will change their release date in order to avoid excessive competition.

Will 'Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes' Be in Theaters or on Streaming?

Image via 20th Century Studios

Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes will have an exclusive theatrical release, but it is expected to be available for streaming on either Disney+ or Hulu since it is being distributed by 20th Century Studios, which is owned by Disney. However, considering the recent announcement of Disney's acquisition of Comcast's remaining stake in Hulu, it is highly likely that by the time Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes is ready for streaming, Disney+ and Hulu will have merged into a single streaming platform.

Is There a Trailer for 'Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes'?

The Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes, an upcoming film by 20th Century Studios, released its first teaser trailer on November 2, 2023. This intriguing trailer offers glimpses into the plot and introduces us to a new protagonist – a young ape. Notably, the teaser reveals a significant change in the apes' communication as they have transitioned from broken English to fluent English.

What Is the Plot of 'Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes'?

The Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes is a soft reboot of the franchise, set in the future after the events of the "Caesar Trilogy." Although the previous films are part of the new film's canon, popular characters like Caesar, Koba, Cornelia, Maurice, Rocket, and Nova are not expected to make an appearance. The official synopsis provided by 20th Century Studios is as follows:

Director Wes Ball revitalizes the expansive, global franchise situated multiple generations ahead, subsequent to Caesar's reign. In this future era, apes thrive as the dominant species, coexisting peacefully, while humanity dwells in the shadows. As a burgeoning tyrannical ape leader constructs his empire, a youthful ape embarks on a perilous expedition that challenges his fundamental understanding of history and compels him to make decisions that will shape the destiny of both apes and humans.

Who Stars in 'Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes'?

This image is provided by 20th Century Studios.

Considering that the upcoming film in the Planet of the Apes series is set to occur "several generations" later than the preceding installment, it is logical to expect a completely fresh ensemble cast.

Owen Teague, the new lead in the film, will portray the ape character using motion-capture technology. He takes over the role previously played by Andy Serkis, who received praise from both critics and audiences for his portrayal of Caesar in the previous trilogy. Although Serkis did not return for the new movie, Teague sought guidance from the experienced motion-capture actor. In an interview, Teague shared that the challenge was adjusting to wearing the motion-capture suit and having a camera attached to his head all day. However, after about a week, he grew accustomed to it, just as Serkis had advised. Teague emphasized that once the technical aspects were familiar, the distinction between playing a human and an ape became insignificant, similar to wearing a costume.

Freya Allan (The Witcher) has been selected to portray the young woman who embarks on a journey alongside the young ape, becoming the primary human lead in the film. The Caesar trilogy's previous human cast members, including James Franco, Jason Clarke, Gary Oldman, Woody Harrelson, and Amiah Miller, are unlikely to make a return for the new movie. Instead, Freya Allan will assume this significant role.

Joining the cast alongside Allan are a talented group of actors, including William H. Macy (Shameless), Kevin Durand (The Strain), Peter Macon (The Orville), Eka Darville (Jessica Jones), Travis Jeffery (Unbroken), Neil Sandilands (Sweet Tooth), Sara Wiseman (A Place to Call Home), Lydia Peckham (Cowboy Bebop), Ras-Samuel Weld A'abzgi (The Clearing), and Dichen Lachman (Severance). Together, they form the rest of the film's ensemble.

Details about the new characters and their connections to the characters from the "Caesar Trilogy" have not yet been disclosed. Hence, at this point, we can only speculate on the identities of these new characters.

Who's Making 'Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes'?

Image via 20th Century Studios

Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes will be helmed by Wes Ball, known for directing The Maze Runner trilogy under the 20th Century Studios banner. Ball takes the directorial helm from Matt Reeves, who successfully led the previous installments Dawn of the Planet of the Apes and War for the Planet of the Apes.

The screenplay for Avatar: The Way of Water was penned by a team of talented screenwriters, including Josh Friedman, Rick Jaffa, Amanda Silver, and Patrick Aison, who also wrote the script for Prey. Furthermore, Jaffa and Silver, who were responsible for the scripts of the previous three Planet of the Apes films, played a crucial role in crafting the screenplay.

In addition to their writing roles, Ball, Jaffa, and Silver also take on the roles of producers for the film. Joining them as producers are Joe Hartwick Jr (known for The Maze Runner) and Jason Reed (known for Mulan). The film also boasts esteemed executive producers, Peter Chernin (renowned for Hidden Figures) and Jenno Topping (notable for Ford v Ferrari).

When and Where Was 'Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes' Filmed?

Several individuals who had previously collaborated with Ball on The Maze Runner trilogy came together once again to contribute to the new film. This talented group includes John Paesano, who composed the film's score, Gyula Pados, the cinematographer, and Dan Zimmerman, the editor.

Principal photography for Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes commenced in October 2022 at Disney Studios Australia in Sydney, operating under the working title Forbidden Zone. Director Matt Reeves confirmed the conclusion of filming on February 15, 2023, through a behind-the-scenes video captured on the sets of Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes. The video, tweeted by Reeves, is available for viewing below:

In the video, viewers can get a sneak peek of the movie's ape characters commemorating the completion of filming in front of a blue screen. The large crew can also be seen enthusiastically applauding and cheering as Wes Ball declares, "It's a wrap!"

Editor's P/S

As a Gen Z fan, I am eagerly anticipating the release of "Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes." The reboot series has been a thrilling ride so far, and I can't wait to see what's next for the franchise. The first teaser trailer, released on November 2, 2023, gave us a glimpse into the new story and introduced us to a young ape protagonist. I'm excited to see how this new character develops and interacts with the other apes and humans in the film.

The soft reboot approach is an interesting choice, as it allows the filmmakers to explore new storylines and characters while still staying connected to the events of the previous films. I'm curious to see how the franchise will evolve with this new direction, and I'm hopeful that it will continue to deliver the same level of action, suspense, and thought-provoking storytelling that we've come to expect from the Planet of the Apes movies.