Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes
“Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes” presents a golden opportunity to bring together the entire Planet of the Apes franchise into a single coherent storyline. The franchise’s journey began with the iconic 1968 film, which followed astronaut George Taylor (Charlton Heston) as he arrived on a planet governed by intelligent apes, only to later realize that it was a post-apocalyptic Earth. This original film spawned four sequels. The franchise underwent a reboot in 2001 with Tim Burton’s version and once more in 2011 with “Rise of the Planet of the Apes,” which laid the foundation for the modern era of Apes movies.
The forthcoming “Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes” is set to be the next installment, continuing the narrative after Matt Reeves’s “War for the Planet of the Apes.” The film will focus on Cornelius (Owen Teague), who assumes the role of the new ape protagonist, succeeding his father Caesar (Andy Serkis) from the previous three films. While “Kingdom” may initially appear as a contemporary reinterpretation of the Planet of the Apes series like its predecessors, it occupies a unique narrative position that holds the potential to merge all the diverse films into a single, overarching storyline.
The events in “Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes” take place after the conclusion of “War for the Planet of the Apes,” and the aftermath closely parallels the original Planet of the Apes continuity. Notably, Caesar’s revered status as the savior of the apes leads to the establishment of a new ape-led Earth in both storylines. However, significant deviations occur, particularly after Caesar’s passing in “War for the Planet of the Apes.” This crucial point of divergence offers the film an invaluable opportunity to weave together the various threads of the franchise into a unified and cohesive narrative.
“Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes” is positioned to bridge the narratives of all previous Apes films.
Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes unfolds in the aftermath of “War for the Planet of the Apes,” and parallels can be drawn between this juncture and the original Planet of the Apes storyline. Notably, Caesar’s iconic role as the apes’ savior is a common thread in both timelines, culminating in the establishment of an ape-dominated Earth.
However, it’s important to note that while there are significant similarities, there are also noteworthy deviations, particularly following Caesar’s demise in “War for the Planet of the Apes.” These differences present a pivotal opportunity for “Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes” to harmonize and consolidate the diverse threads of the franchise into a unified narrative.
In contrast, films like “Conquest of the Planet of the Apes” and “Battle for the Planet of the Apes” portray Caesar (Roddy McDowall) as a proactive leader in the ape society, continuing long after the collapse of human civilization. These narratives introduce a different dynamic, where humans and apes coexist in a transformed world, distinct from the original concept where apes rise to power while humans regress into silence.
Nevertheless, “Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes” possesses a range of narrative tools that could effectively bridge the old and new Apes movies.
“Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes” has a unique opportunity to address the canon changes introduced in the reboot trilogy.
Rather than viewing the Planet of the Apes franchise as a convoluted web of alternate timelines, the film could use this complexity to its advantage in uniting the series.
One approach could involve integrating the original Apes films as earlier iterations of the timeline. According to this perspective, “Rise of the Planet of the Apes” would mark the inception of the third and current timeline. “Kingdom” could reveal that a future ape or human has traveled back in time, effectively repositioning “Rise of the Planet of the Apes” as a contemporary prelude to all preceding Apes movies.
Alternatively, the film could take a more philosophical route in incorporating the original Apes movies. They could be seen as legendary or fictionalized retellings of the events from the modern Apes movies. This interpretation hinges on the idea that history is often shaped by those in power – a status now held by the apes following the events of “War for the Planet of the Apes.” In contrast, humanity’s transformation into mute beings could leave them with limited agency in narrating their own apocalyptic history. This perspective sets up the original Planet of the Apes movies as a form of ape folklore, presenting Caesar and his kin in a heroic light, while portraying humans as the antagonists of the tale.