Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes, an upcoming American science fiction
action film, is under the direction of Wes Ball. The screenplay, crafted by
Josh Friedman, Rick Jaffa, Amanda Silver, and Patrick Aison, is produced by Joe
Hartwick Jr., Jaffa, Silver, and Jason Reed. Positioned as the sequel to War
for the Planet of the Apes (2017) and the fourth entry in the Planet of the
Apes reboot series, the movie features Owen Teague in the lead role, alongside
Freya Allan, Kevin Durand, Peter Macon, and William H. Macy.
The inception of this new Planet of the Apes project dates back to April
2019, post Disney's acquisition of 20th Century Fox. Wes Ball was brought on
board as the writer and director in December of the same year. Much of the
script was developed during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, and casting
activities kicked off in June 2022, following the completion of the script.
Owen Teague secured the lead role in August, and the film's title, along with
additional casting details, were gradually unveiled in the subsequent months.
Principal photography commenced in October 2022 in Sydney and concluded in
February 2023.
Anticipated for release on May 24, 2024, Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes
is set to hit the screens under the banner of 20th Century Studios in the United
States.
Premise
Years after the occurrences of War for the Planet of the Apes (2017), numerous ape groups have surfaced in the sanctuary where Caesar guided his fellow apes. Meanwhile, humanity has devolved into a primal state. When the ape leader Proximus distorts Caesar's principles to subjugate other clans in a quest for the remaining hints of a concealed human technology, the ape Noa sets out on a quest for liberation, accompanied by a young human named Mae.
Cast
Owen Teague takes on the role of Noa, a young chimpanzee born many generations after Caesar's era. Freya Allan portrays Mae, a feral young woman who becomes Noa's companion on his journey. Kevin Durand embodies Proximus Caesar, a formidable chimpanzee ruler leading a coastal ape clan in the quest for human technology. Travis Jeffery, Peter Macon as Raka, a wise orangutan and Noa's ally, and William H. Macy also join the cast. Additionally, Eka Darville, Neil Sandilands, Sara Wiseman, Lydia Peckham, Ras-Samuel Weld A'abzgi, and Dichen Lachman have been enlisted for undisclosed roles.
In October 2016, director Matt Reeves, known for Dawn of the Planet of the Apes (2014) and War for the Planet of the Apes (2017), shared plans for a fourth installment in the Planet of the Apes reboot series. As War was released in mid-2017, Reeves and co-writer Mark Bomback expressed continued interest in sequels. They highlighted the character Bad Ape, played by Steve Zahn, as a key figure in expanding the primate world beyond Caesar's group, suggesting potential conflicts with apes who grew up without Caesar's leadership.
Production
In April 2019, following Disney's acquisition of 20th Century Fox, the company announced the development of more Planet of the Apes films. Subsequently, it was confirmed in August that future installments would remain within the universe established in Rise of the Planet of the Apes (2011). Wes Ball was then revealed in December as the writer and director of the upcoming film, having previously collaborated with Reeves on a Mouse Guard adaptation.
By February 2020, Wes Ball clarified that the new film would not be a reboot but would focus on "Caesar's legacy." Producers Joe Hartwick Jr. and David Starke were also confirmed. In April, Peter Chernin, the producer of previous installments, was announced as the executive producer. It was later revealed in May that Josh Friedman would co-write the script, with Rick Jaffa and Amanda Silver returning as producers. Ball emphasized that the film, rather than a direct sequel to War, would serve as a follow-up to the earlier movies and could commence virtual production despite the COVID-19 pandemic due to its extensive use of computer-generated imagery (CGI).
In March 2022, 20th Century Studios president Steve Asbell anticipated a screenplay draft soon, aiming for production to start by year-end. By June, Oddball Entertainment and Shinbone Productions were announced as additional producers, and the search for the main star began. In September 2022, the film's title was unveiled as Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes, set many years after War. The writing team expanded to include Jaffa, Silver, and Patrick Aison, with Jason Reed as producer and Jenno Topping as executive producer, while Starke was no longer expected to serve as a producer.
Casting
Owen Teague secured the lead motion-capture role in the film in August 2022. Following this, Freya Allan and Peter Macon were announced as part of the cast, along with the revelation of the film's title and release year in the subsequent month. Eka Darville and Kevin Durand joined the cast in October. In the same month, Travis Jeffery, Neil Sandilands, Sara Wiseman, Lydia Peckham, and Ras-Samuel Weld A'abzgi were also added to the ensemble. William H. Macy and Dichen Lachman joined the cast in January and February 2023, respectively.
Release Date
The release date for Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes in the United States is set for May 24, 2024.
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