Summary

• Director Wes Ball claims "we tried to exist in both places" when it comes to connecting Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes with the 1968 classic and Caesar trilogy: "the two pillars."
• Ball also says of his Kingdom's place in the franchise, “We're trying to be somewhere in the middle between those two."
• The upcoming sci-fi action film almost didn't happen, with Ball initially being reluctant, but the story eventually found its own unique path.

“Godd—n you all to hell!” Fans of the classic 1968 Planet of the Apes will undoubtedly remember actor Charlton Heston's Taylor crying out and cursing humanity for destroying the world when he and Nova (Linda Harrison) discover the shattered remains of the Statue of Liberty. And who can forget the brilliance of Andy Serkis’ heartfelt performances in the most recent Caesar-led Planet of the Apes trilogy? Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes' director Wes Ball clearly hasn’t forgotten, and he reveals his upcoming film “is trying to be somewhere in the middle between those two.” Ball said in an interview with ComicBook.com:

We tried to exist in both places. The two pillars: The Caesar trilogy and we've got the '68. And we're trying to be somewhere in the middle between those two.

Heston starred alongside Roddy McDowall, Linda Harrison, Kim Hunter and Maurice Evans in the very first Planet of the Apes 56 years ago. The seminal ’68 film spawned four sequels between 1970 and 1973. And then in 2011, Serkis first voiced the character of Caesar in Rise of the Planet of the Apes, which also starred James Franco and Brian Cox.

Dawn of the Planet of the Apes followed in 2014 and finally War for the Planet of the Apes in 2017. Nearly seven years have passed since the last entry in the Planet of the Apes franchise. However, even with such an enduring legacy — spanning nearly 60 years — and so much potential for more storytelling, Ball wasn’t sure he had any interest in leading his upcoming Kingdom.

Wes Ball Admits ‘I Wasn’t Sure That There Was a Next Movie’

Certainly, the 1968 classic still ranks as the best of all the Planet of the Apes movies. Not only did it lead the way for its sequels and the Caesar trilogy, but don’t forget that the television show (1974), animated series (1975) and Tim Burton’s Mark Wahlberg-led reimagining (2001) are also a part of that legacy. But Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes’ director Wes Ball “wasn’t sure that there was a next movie.” Ball said in the same interview:

"I have said this before, but I was hesitant when I was first asked about it. I wasn't sure that there was a next movie. I wasn't interested in making a Part Four. If we were just to do another continuation, you know, a 1-2-3-4 never works. Beginning, middle, end. Closure, perfect. And it wasn't until we decided to do this, where there's still a tether to those other movies, but be our own thing."

Ball continued:

“That's where I felt the freedom that we could go be our own thing, and stand on our own two feet. And then it was just a question of, 'Can we come up with a story that was worthy of telling? A chapter in this long legacy of movies that have been made over since 1968?' That was the challenge."

The original, long-range box office forecast predicated Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes to make between $40 million and $50 million over its opening weekend. According to a recent report by Deadline, Ball’s entry in the sci-fi franchise is now eyeing over $50 million, en route to somewhere in the neighborhood of $130 million worldwide during its global debut.

Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes opens on May 10.