- Andy Serkis' praise for Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes hints at a mind-blowing twist in the upcoming fourth installment of the reboot trilogy.
- Proximus Caesar distorts the original Caesar's teachings in the film, setting up a complex storyline for the new movie that may involve a twist with human technology.
- Given the franchise's history of major twists at the end of their movies, Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes could feature anything from apes jumping forward technologically to the advent of space travel.
Andy Serkis' promise for Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes sets up a major twist for the upcoming film, indicating how unpredictable its story will be. Set 300 years after the original reboot trilogy, Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes' story focuses on a chimpanzee named Noa (Owen Teague) on a journey with a feral human, Mae (Freya Allan). The story centers around the tyrannical Proximus Caesar (Kevin Durand), a king who had outlawed Caesar's teachings and is trying to harness now-ancient human technology.
The story follows the end of War for the Planet of the Apes, which continued setting the groundwork for a world similar to the 1968 original. However, with its story set hundreds of years after the previous film, the events of Kingdom will be unpredictable. While the basic premise and the cast of Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes is known, what isn't clear is the direction its story will be heading and what it could mean for the franchise going forward.
Kingdom Of The Planet Of The Apes Completely Changes What Caesar Stood For
Caesar's teachings are being twisted and misrepresented in Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes, setting up a beautifully complex storyline.Andy Serkis Said Kingdom Of The Planet Of The Apes' Story Is Mind-Blowing
The actor's hype reveals how big the new movie will be.
Actor Andy Serkis, who portrayed Caesar in the first three films of the reboot series, spoke about the next movie with Cinemablend, teasing that Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes will "blow people's minds." While he has no official involvement in this entry of the franchise, Serkis praised Kingdom's story and director Wes Ball's ideas based on what he knows about the movie. Given The Maze Runner director's penchant for post-apocalyptic movies, it's no surprise he was able to translate those talents to the latest Planet of the Apes movie.
The mind-blowing story is visible starting from the first Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes trailer, which teases a world that's very different after 300 years. Apes appear to be broken into different factions, with some worshipping Proximus while others hunt down feral humans - possibly at the new king's command. Noa, however, is sympathetic to humanity, a concept that opens the door for a wider exploration of humans' new role in this post-apocalyptic world.
Given how much the star of the original reboot trilogy is hyping up the series' fourth entry, it seems like something major is going to happen in the upcoming installment. Since the Planet of the Apes movies are always eventful, often action-packed spectacles, it's clear the film will be a visual powerhouse no matter what. But, with so little known about the story despite Serkis' hype, it appears whatever happens next is going to take the franchise in an unexpected direction.
Kingdom Of The Planet Of The Apes Needs A Major Twist To Deliver On Serkis' Tease
A story twist feels necessary after how much he's praised the film.
If Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes wants to live up to the hype Serkis is giving it, then its story is going to need to have a major, unpredictable twist. The movie is planned to be the start of a new Planet of the Apes trilogy, allowing for the further expansion and evolution of the franchise. While it seems the reboot's world is heading in the direction of the 1968 classic, a story twist still seems necessary if it's to deliver on what Serkis has said about it.
While it's possible the new trilogy is going to lead into a Planet of the Apes remake some time in the future, it's just as possible Kingdom heads in a completely different direction to flesh out the world of the reboot series. Serkis' tease could mean it will be quite some time until the original gets a remake in this timeline. However, it also hints at the franchise keeping up a major tradition that's been a key part of its past installments.
With twists like this one being a key component of how new stories in the franchise begin, it makes sense for a major twist to happen during Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes.
Planet Of The Apes Has A History Of Mind-Blowing Twists
The 1968 original has one of the most classic, dark twists in film history.
From the end of Planet of the Apes in 1968, the franchise has been known for presenting major twists throughout its varied installments. The ending of the first movie is considered classic, as astronaut George Taylor (Charlton Heston) finally learns the planet he's landed on was actually Earth the whole time. He finds the Statue of Liberty half-buried on a beach and begins to break down, finally realizing he's on his home planet in the far future. While this chilling twist has become common knowledge, it was an unexpected ending to those seeing it for the first time.
In a similar vein - though not as well-received - was the ending of Tim Burton's Planet of the Apes in 2001. The ending sees Captain Leo Davidson (Mark Wahlberg) return to Earth after his harrowing experiences on the planet Ashlar, only to see the Lincoln Memorial is a monument to the film's antagonist, General Thade (Tim Roth). He's arrested by apes, realizing his mission had resulted in Earth becoming their new home. While this ending was criticized for leaving the movie on a confusing note, it does underscore how twists are a big part of the franchise.
The reboot trilogy's first movie also had a twist ending, although this acted as setup for the new Planet of the Apes timeline instead of a definitive note of finality. Rise of the Planet of the Apes ended with ALZ-113 infecting the human population, the credits of the film showing as it spread throughout the world. With twists like this one being a key component of how new stories in the franchise begin, it makes sense for a major twist to happen during Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes.
What Kingdom Of The Planet Of The Apes' Mind-Blowing Twist Could Be
Could human technology offer clues to the twist?
While it's unclear what Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes' twist might be, promotional material indicates Proximuis' attempts at harnessing human technology will be an important part of the story. Given the apes are still developing as a society by the time of this new movie, the tyrant may want to utilize past tech to push the world forward at a rapid pace. While his goals are motivated by a need for power, they could result in a twist where the apes become more technologically advanced at a rapid rate.
The film's possible focus on human technology could mean Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes involves space travel, thematically aligning with the events of the original movie. If something like this were to happen, it would provide a massive twist on the original premise of humans ending up on a future version of Earth. The apes learning how to travel in space could do anything from evolve their society in a general sense, or see them flung into a far-off future similar to the world in the 1968 movie.
With Serkis hyping up the new movie and a history of twists littered throughout various entries, Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes is bound to have a major twist that turns its story on its head. If it's as big as apes utilizing advanced technology or space travel, then the twist could alter the state of the franchise forever. It may even provide the groundwork for the planned new trilogy, giving it an identity unlike anything the series has ever embraced before.
Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes arrives in theaters on May 10, 2024.
Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes
Set several years after the events of War for the Planet of the Apes, Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes is the next installment in the Apes saga. Ape clans have taken up residence in the oasis that Caesar sought to colonize, but humans have reverted to their animalistic nature in their absence. Now battling between enslavement and freedom, outliers in the Ape clans will take sides in a newly burgeoning society.
DirectorWes Ball
Release DateMay 10, 2024
Studio(s)Shinbone Productions, Oddball Entertainment, Chernin Entertainment, 20th Century
Distributor(s)20th Century
WritersPatrick Aison, Josh Friedman, Amanda Silver, Rick Jaffa
CastSara Wiseman, Neil Sandilands, Eka Darville, Kevin Durand, Owen Teague, Freya Allan, Peter Macon
Ratingr
Genres Sci-Fi, Action
Franchise(s)Planet of the Apes
Sequel(s)Escape from the Planet of the Apes, Planet of the Apes, Conquest of the Planet of the Apes, Beneath the Planet of the Apes, Battle for the Planet of the Apes
prequel(s)Rise of the Planet of the Apes, War for the Planet of the Apes, dawn of the Planet of the apes movie
