Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes: humanity’s feral turn in an ape’s world (trailer).
Grab your space helmets and bananas because we’re about to talk about something exciting. Have you been on the edge of your seat since “War for the Planet of the Apes“? Well, it’s time to recline a bit because the apes are not done with us yet! There’s a new chapter unfolding in this simian saga: “Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes.” Directed by the visionary Wes Ball, who’s been weaving this tale together alongside a team of screenwriters—Josh Friedman, Rick Jaffa, Amanda Silver, and Patrick Aison—this installment promises to be a rollercoaster of action and emotions. And with Joe Hartwick Jr., Jaffa, Silver, and Jason Reed at the production helm, it’s clear this film isn’t monkeying around.
Let’s talk about the cast, shall we? Owen Teague is stepping into the lead role, and word on the street is that his performance is something to watch out for. He’s joined by Freya Allan, Kevin Durand (as the imposing Proximus Caesar—yikes!), Peter Macon, and, wait for it… William H. Macy. Now, that’s a lineup that makes you want to climb the Empire State Building and beat your chest in anticipation!
The journey to bring this film to life sounds almost as epic as the plot itself. Imagine this: it all began back in April 2019, post-Disney’s acquisition of 20th Century Fox. Fast forward to the world getting cozy with lockdowns, and our filmmakers were scripting away in the midst of the pandemic in 2020. Cut to June 2022, the casting gears started turning, and by October, cameras were rolling in Sydney.
Now, picture this: generations after the events of “War for the Planet of the Apes,” we’ve got multiple ape clans living it up in an oasis—talk about evolution, right? But here’s the kicker—humans have gone a bit wild, in the not-so-civilized sense. In comes Proximus Caesar, who’s got a bit of a twisted vision, and our hero ape, Noa, paired with a human girl, both searching for freedom. It’s like a buddy road trip, but with more fur and existential crisis.
The production tales are just as juicy. Did you know that the initial whispers of a fourth film started as early as 2016? Matt Reeves, director of the previous two films, had already started brewing some ideas. Although he handed the directorial reins to Ball, his vision of a larger primate world certainly seems to have been an inspiration.
The Disney-Fox dance led us to Wes Ball, who had to pivot from a canceled “Mouse Guard” film to taking on this massive project. And despite all the challenges—including a global pandemic—our resilient team has managed to push through. With CGI magic and some nifty video calls (hello, Zoom), they’ve crafted what promises to be a compelling follow-up to the story of Caesar.
Speaking of production, did you know that the Australian government chipped in to make this happen? Yep, that’s some serious commitment to the arts. They wrapped up filming in February 2023, and since then, I bet they’ve been cooking up some spectacular post-production spice.
Let’s not forget the teaser trailer that dropped on November 2, 2023. That’s got everyone buzzing about the premise and the nods to the 1968 original that made us all rethink our place in the animal kingdom.
Alright, mark your calendars, set your reminders, and maybe start practicing your best ape impressions because “Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes” is swinging into theaters in the United States on May 24th, 2024. It’s time to get excited about what these apes have in store for us next. Will it be bananas? Absolutely. Will we love it? Most definitely! See you at the movies, folks, and until then—keep it wild!
