Kingdom Of The Planet Of The Apes Story Reveals Time Period And New Sci-Fi Trilogy
From the ashes of the Rise of the Planet of the Apes trilogy comes a new story that takes place hundreds of years later in a saga that will begin with Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes. While many assumed that Kingdom would take place immediately following the aftermath of War for the Planet of the Apes, according to Empire, that’s not the case. Instead, the new movie, helmed by Wes Ball will branch off into its own story only loosely connected to Ceasar’s saga that began with the 2011 film.
A Whole New Trilogy
Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes plans a bold departure from the well-trodden path of its predecessor trilogy. The new movie will catapult audiences nearly three centuries into the future, immersing them in a whole new epoch for the ape-dominated planet. Directed by Wes Ball, this ambitious film, slated to be the first installment in a new trilogy, sheds the well-worn skin of Caesar’s legacy and introduces audiences to a world vastly different from the one left behind in War for the Planet of the Apes.
Noa
With a new story comes a new protagonist: Noa, a young ape portrayed by Owen Teague. Unlike his legendary forebear, Caesar, Noa is blissfully unaware of the historical significance of “apes together strong.” Teague explains that the character is clueless to the mantra and part of his journey in Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes is to discover that legacy and interpret what it means to him. However, even if Noa is naive to Ceasar’s legacy, not all apes have forgotten their former leader. Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes introduces its antagonist in the form of Proximus Caesar, a regally adorned chimpanzee with an agenda of his own. Portrayed by Kevin Durand, Proximus Caesar adopts the name as a self-proclaimed title, mirroring the highest position in ape society held by the revered Caesar.
Proximus Caesar
Durand explains, “Caesar is almost a religious figure, and Proximus has taken on the name Caesar because it was the highest position held in ape society.” Proximus Caesar is portrayed as a complex character in Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes, wielding influence with motives that may not align with the greater good of the ape community. Durand continues, “Like in every morsel of human history, there’s always some type of tyrant who comes along and scares everyone into believing them.”
The Beginning Of A New Era
While some fans might be disappointed in knowing that Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes will not continue where the previous sci-fi saga left off, others will be excited to start a new story in a similar world. Kingdom is a standalone narrative that aims to carve its own niche in the Planet of the Apes legacy. Director Wes Ball expresses a clear intention to tell a bigger story, emphasizing that the film is the beginning of a new era.
Kingdom Of The Planet Of The Apes Releases In 2024
Ball states, “Those last three movies were about the end of something. They were about the end of this Moses story. They were about the end of humanity. And we thought, ‘From the ashes of those previous movies, we’re gonna grow a new tree to climb.’” Rather than continue the end, the director wanted to start at the beginning of something new, which is exactly what Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes intends to do.
