EntertainmentMoviesSci-Fi MoviesKingdom of the Planet of the ApesKingdom of the Planet of the Apes director would like to see the series build to the 1968 original - but hopes we never see a remakeWhen you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
EntertainmentMoviesSci-Fi MoviesKingdom of the Planet of the ApesKingdom of the Planet of the Apes director would like to see the series build to the 1968 original - but hopes we never see a remakeWhen you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
(Image credit: 20th Century Studios)
Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes, the latest chapter in the beloved series, is set roughly 300 years after the last installment, 2017’sWar for the Planet of the Apes. Given this jump ahead in time, you may be wondering whether that means that one day we will see the current prequel movies link up with the legendary 1968 original, Planet of the Apes, which starred the great Charlton Heston as an astronaut who crash lands on a strange planet sometime in the distant future.
Of course, even with this time jump, we still have a way to go before reaching the events of the original movie, but Kingdom director Wes Ball hopes that one day we meet it. As the filmmaker divulged during an interview with GamesRadar+ and theInside Total Film podcast, he would love to see the current films build to the 1968 classic - but hopes that it is never remade (notably Tim Burton did release his own reimagining in 2001 to a poor reception).
Ball revealed: “I do think there are still many, many years in-between when that Charlton Heston reality steps in, where a spaceship drops out of the sky onto a planet full of apes. The connectedness of all these movies has always been a little loose, they aren’t like other franchises out there which are so absolutely carved in stone you can’t violate things - it’s always been a little loosely connected. In my mind if we had our choice, we wouldn’t go back and remake the 1968 version, we would build all the way up to it then start over, just go back and watch [the] ‘68 version and the franchise through.”
(Image credit: 20th Century Studios)
It’s no secret that Kingdom aims to be the start of a new trilogy, following on from the most recent one which Ball has dubbed ‘the Caesar trilogy’. So, whilst a sequel hasn’t been given the official green light yet, this chapter does set events up pretty neatly for one, which the team already have some ideas for - even if they are currently just vague themes. Although it’s likely the director is just very good at holding his cards close to his chest…
As Ball teases: “What we did try to do is open a door to the potential of what we want to explore in the future. All these movies are about humans and apes living together or not, how they co-exist, the drama and conflict between them. That’s always what makes these movies tick, so what people will come to find is that this isn’t just an ape story, it’s also a human story, and ultimately if we are lucky enough to make more, that’s what we will go forward with - the relationship between these characters, how that will feed on itself, there’s plenty of drama and conflict to explore along the way.”
(Image credit: 20th Century Studios)
Similarly, the cast are also keeping their lips sealed when discussing the possibility of returning for another film, but they could reveal what they would personally like to see from a sequel. For lead actor Owen Teague, who portrays the new young ape Noa, he wants to see where his protagonist goes next after going on quite the journey in Kingdom. He explained: “I would like to see the route in terms of how he becomes a leader and the path he chooses to go on, how he carries forward in this world of apes and what role you might or might not play.”
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The “you” Teague refers to there are the actors that are sat next to him during our interview, Freya Allan and Kevin Durand, who portray mysterious human Mae and the villainous ape Proximus Caesar respectively. They too have their own ideas for what they would like to see from potential future movies, which for Allan should continue to focus on Noa: “I want to see how Noa navigates what he has learnt - he comes from this village with such a specific upbringing. He’s sheltered and isolated, this movie is him learning everything all at once - I want to see how he takes that.”
Durand meanwhile has a more tongue-in-cheek response taking inspiration from Shakespeare, as he concludes: “I’m kinda hoping that I’m an angel and devil on both of your shoulders. Almost a type of Iago character. That’s what I’m hoping for so, here’s to hoping!”
Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes releases in cinemas on May 9 in the UK and May 10 in the US. For more from our interviews, here’s Ball onwhether we will see a film about Caesar’s son one day.
And to stay up to date with the most exciting films heading your way, check our our guide to theupcoming moviesof 2024.
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GAME REVIEWSMOVIE REVIEWSTV REVIEWS1Nemesis review: “A magical sense of tension"2Arcs review: “A whole lot of game in a small package"3Path of Exile 2 review: “A stellar start to a thrilling and brutal dark adventure"4Indiana Jones and the Great Circle review: “The best adventure Indy has embarked on in over 30 years"5Marvel Rivals review: “So preoccupied with trying to be like Overwatch that it forgets to play to its own strengths"1Sonic the Hedgehog 3 review: “Keanu Reeves as Shadow is wasted whilst Jim Carrey steals the show"2Mufasa: The Lion King review – “It’s no Hakuna Matata but this Disney origin story is a class above the 2019 movie"3Kraven the Hunter review: “The insistence on an R-rating helps save this, with a decent helping of bloodthirsty action"4The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim review – “An uninspired expansion of the most iconic screen take on Tolkien"5Nightbitch review: “Amy Adams’ disappointing dark comedy is all bark and no bite"1Doctor Who 2024 Christmas special review: “Ncuti Gatwa is as magnetic as ever in this delightful festive treat"2Secret Level review: “An uneven experience with serious highlights that ultimately make up for the misses"3Skeleton Crew review: “Perfectly captures the vibes of classic Star Wars with a swashbuckling twist"4Creature Commandos review: “James Gunn’s heartwarming, R-rated tale about super-monsters proves that the DCU is in good hands"5Cobra Kai season 6, part 2 review: “Returns to the sort of hard-hitting form that made it such a fan favorite in the first place”
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GAME REVIEWSMOVIE REVIEWSTV REVIEWS
1Nemesis review: “A magical sense of tension”
1Nemesis review: “A magical sense of tension”
1
Nemesis review: “A magical sense of tension”
2Arcs review: “A whole lot of game in a small package”
2Arcs review: “A whole lot of game in a small package”
2
Arcs review: “A whole lot of game in a small package”
3Path of Exile 2 review: “A stellar start to a thrilling and brutal dark adventure”
3Path of Exile 2 review: “A stellar start to a thrilling and brutal dark adventure”
3
Path of Exile 2 review: “A stellar start to a thrilling and brutal dark adventure”
4Indiana Jones and the Great Circle review: “The best adventure Indy has embarked on in over 30 years”
4Indiana Jones and the Great Circle review: “The best adventure Indy has embarked on in over 30 years”
4
Indiana Jones and the Great Circle review: “The best adventure Indy has embarked on in over 30 years”
5Marvel Rivals review: “So preoccupied with trying to be like Overwatch that it forgets to play to its own strengths”
5Marvel Rivals review: “So preoccupied with trying to be like Overwatch that it forgets to play to its own strengths”
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Marvel Rivals review: “So preoccupied with trying to be like Overwatch that it forgets to play to its own strengths”
1Sonic the Hedgehog 3 review: “Keanu Reeves as Shadow is wasted whilst Jim Carrey steals the show”
1Sonic the Hedgehog 3 review: “Keanu Reeves as Shadow is wasted whilst Jim Carrey steals the show”
1
Sonic the Hedgehog 3 review: “Keanu Reeves as Shadow is wasted whilst Jim Carrey steals the show”
2Mufasa: The Lion King review – “It’s no Hakuna Matata but this Disney origin story is a class above the 2019 movie”
2Mufasa: The Lion King review – “It’s no Hakuna Matata but this Disney origin story is a class above the 2019 movie”
2
Mufasa: The Lion King review – “It’s no Hakuna Matata but this Disney origin story is a class above the 2019 movie”
3Kraven the Hunter review: “The insistence on an R-rating helps save this, with a decent helping of bloodthirsty action”
3Kraven the Hunter review: “The insistence on an R-rating helps save this, with a decent helping of bloodthirsty action”
3
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4The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim review – “An uninspired expansion of the most iconic screen take on Tolkien”
4The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim review – “An uninspired expansion of the most iconic screen take on Tolkien”
4
The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim review – “An uninspired expansion of the most iconic screen take on Tolkien”
5Nightbitch review: “Amy Adams’ disappointing dark comedy is all bark and no bite”
5Nightbitch review: “Amy Adams’ disappointing dark comedy is all bark and no bite”
5
Nightbitch review: “Amy Adams’ disappointing dark comedy is all bark and no bite”
1Doctor Who 2024 Christmas special review: “Ncuti Gatwa is as magnetic as ever in this delightful festive treat”
1Doctor Who 2024 Christmas special review: “Ncuti Gatwa is as magnetic as ever in this delightful festive treat”
1
Doctor Who 2024 Christmas special review: “Ncuti Gatwa is as magnetic as ever in this delightful festive treat”
2Secret Level review: “An uneven experience with serious highlights that ultimately make up for the misses”
2Secret Level review: “An uneven experience with serious highlights that ultimately make up for the misses”
2
Secret Level review: “An uneven experience with serious highlights that ultimately make up for the misses”
3Skeleton Crew review: “Perfectly captures the vibes of classic Star Wars with a swashbuckling twist”
3Skeleton Crew review: “Perfectly captures the vibes of classic Star Wars with a swashbuckling twist”
3
Skeleton Crew review: “Perfectly captures the vibes of classic Star Wars with a swashbuckling twist”
4Creature Commandos review: “James Gunn’s heartwarming, R-rated tale about super-monsters proves that the DCU is in good hands”
4Creature Commandos review: “James Gunn’s heartwarming, R-rated tale about super-monsters proves that the DCU is in good hands”
4
Creature Commandos review: “James Gunn’s heartwarming, R-rated tale about super-monsters proves that the DCU is in good hands”
5Cobra Kai season 6, part 2 review: “Returns to the sort of hard-hitting form that made it such a fan favorite in the first place”
5Cobra Kai season 6, part 2 review: “Returns to the sort of hard-hitting form that made it such a fan favorite in the first place”
5
Cobra Kai season 6, part 2 review: “Returns to the sort of hard-hitting form that made it such a fan favorite in the first place”