The trailer for the fourth installment of the Planet of the Apes reboot franchise, Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes, has been released, revealing a new post-apocalyptic chapter in the saga. The film, which is set to premiere on May 24, 2024, follows the descendants of Caesar, the leader of the ape revolution, who died at the end of the previous film, War for the Planet of the Apes.
A New Generation of Apes
The trailer introduces us to Cornelius, the son of Caesar, who was only a child in the last film. He is now a young adult, who must carry on his father’s legacy and uphold his teachings of peace and harmony between apes and humans. However, he faces a new threat from a tyrannical ape named Brutus, who wants to build his own empire and enslave other primates. Brutus is also the son of Koba, Caesar’s former ally and rival, who betrayed him and started a war with the humans.
Cornelius is not alone in his quest to stop Brutus. He is joined by his friends, Nova, a human girl who was adopted by Caesar’s tribe, and Bad Ape, a former zoo chimpanzee who escaped captivity and joined the apes. They also encounter new allies and enemies along the way, as they explore the remnants of human civilization and the natural wonders of the planet.
A New Vision from Wes Ball
The film is directed by Wes Ball, who is best known for his work on the Maze Runner trilogy. He took over the helm from Matt Reeves, who directed the previous two films, Dawn of the Planet of the Apes and War for the Planet of the Apes. Ball said that he wanted to honor the vision of Reeves and the original creators of the franchise, while also bringing his own style and ideas to the table.
Ball said that he was inspired by the classic Planet of the Apes films from the 1960s and 1970s, which explored different aspects of the ape society and culture. He also said that he wanted to make a film that was more adventurous and fun, while still maintaining the emotional core and the themes of the series. He said that he wanted to show the audience a new world, where apes are the dominant species and humans are the outsiders.
A New Cast of Stars
The film features a new cast of actors, who provide the motion capture and voice performances for the ape characters. Owen Teague, who starred in the IT films and The Stand series, plays the role of Cornelius, the protagonist of the film. Freya Allan, who is known for her role as Ciri in The Witcher series, plays the role of Nova, the human girl who can communicate with the apes. Kevin Durand, who appeared in Lost and The Strain, plays the role of Brutus, the main antagonist of the film. Peter Macon, who starred in Shameless and The Orville, plays the role of Maurice, the wise and loyal orangutan who was Caesar’s right-hand man. William H. Macy, who is an Oscar-nominated actor and a veteran of the Planet of the Apes franchise, having played a human character in the 2001 remake, plays the role of Bad Ape, the comic relief of the film.
The film also features some returning actors from the previous films, who reprise their roles as the ape characters. Andy Serkis, who is widely regarded as the master of motion capture performance, returns as the voice of Caesar, who appears in flashbacks and visions. Karin Konoval, who played the role of Maurice in the previous films, returns as the motion capture performer for the character. Terry Notary, who played the role of Rocket, Caesar’s loyal friend and lieutenant, returns as the motion capture performer and the stunt coordinator for the film.
A New Chapter in the Planet of the Apes Legacy
The Planet of the Apes franchise, which is based on a novel by Pierre Boulle, has been one of the most successful and influential science fiction franchises of all time. The original series, which consisted of six films, a TV series, and a animated series, premiered between 1968 and 1975, and explored the themes of evolution, social justice, and human nature. The reboot series, which began in 2011 with Rise of the Planet of the Apes, followed the origin story of Caesar and the ape revolution, and received critical acclaim and commercial success. The franchise has amassed more than $1.7 billion at the worldwide box office.
Disney acquired 20th Century Fox, the studio behind the franchise, in April 2019, and announced that more films in the franchise would go into production. Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes is the first film to be released under the Disney banner, and is expected to be a blockbuster hit. The film is also expected to be a contender for the Academy Awards, especially in the categories of visual effects and sound.
You can watch the full trailer for Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes here.
