“Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes” is an upcoming American science fiction action film helmed by director Wes Ball, featuring a screenplay by Josh Friedman, Rick Jaffa, Amanda Silver, and Patrick Aison. Produced by Joe Hartwick Jr., Jaffa, Silver, and Jason Reed, the movie stands as a sequel to “War for the Planet of the Apes” (2017) and represents the fourth chapter in the Planet of the Apes reboot franchise. The cast includes Owen Teague in the lead role, alongside Freya Allan, Kevin Durand, Peter Macon, and William H. Macy.
The project’s development commenced in April 2019 after Disney’s acquisition of 20th Century Fox, with Ball appointed as both writer and director in December of that year. Despite challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, significant progress was made on the script. Casting activities began in June 2022 upon the script’s completion, with Teague securing the lead role in August of the same year. Subsequent months saw the revelation of the film’s title and additional cast members. Principal photography commenced in October 2022 in Sydney and concluded in February 2023.
“Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes” is slated for release by 20th Century Studios in the United States on May 10, 2024.
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Directed by | Wes Ball |
| Written by | Josh Friedman, Rick Jaffa, Amanda Silver, Patrick Aison |
| Based on | Characters by Rick Jaffa and Amanda Silver; Premise suggested by “Planet of the Apes” by Pierre Boulle |
| Produced by | Wes Ball, Joe Hartwick Jr., Rick Jaffa, Amanda Silver, Jason Reed |
| Starring | Owen Teague, Freya Allan, Kevin Durand, Peter Macon, William H. Macy |
| Cinematography | Gyula Pados |
| Edited by | Dan Zimmerman |
| Music by | John Paesano |
| Production companies | Chernin Entertainment, Oddball Entertainment, Shinbone Productions |
| Distributed by | 20th Century Studios |
| Release date | May 10, 2024 |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
Cast:
- Owen Teague as Noa: A young chimpanzee born nearly 300 years after Caesar’s time.
- Freya Allan as Nova: A feral young woman who joins Noa on his journey while having an agenda of her own.
- Kevin Durand as Proximus Caesar: A powerful bonobo ruler who leads a coastal clan of apes in search of human technologies.
- Peter Macon as Raka: A wise orangutan and an ally of Noa.
- William H. Macy
- Travis Jeffery as Anaya: A chimpanzee and a friend of Noa.
- Lydia Peckham as Soona: A female chimpanzee and a friend of Noa.
- Neil Sandilands as Koro: A chimp elder from Noa’s tribe.
- Eka Darville, Ras-Samuel Weld A’abzgi, Sara Wiseman, and Dichen Lachman have been cast in undisclosed roles.
Production:
In October 2016, Matt Reeves, the director of “Dawn of the Planet of the Apes” (2014) and “War for the Planet of the Apes” (2017), revealed his intentions for a fourth installment in the Planet of the Apes reboot series. As “War” hit theaters in mid-2017, both Reeves and co-writer Mark Bomback reiterated their enthusiasm for potential sequels. Reeves highlighted Steve Zahn’s character, Bad Ape, as a key element in expanding the primate world, suggesting a broader scope beyond Caesar’s immediate group. He hinted at the emergence of apes who hadn’t been under Caesar’s influence, foreseeing potential conflicts upon their encounter. Bomback envisioned one final significant chapter in Caesar’s journey, likening him to a Moses figure within the Apes world. While Bomback speculated about future installments potentially set centuries after “War,” he clarified that there were no concrete discussions about a sequel. He expressed the need for a break to allow the franchise to breathe and rejuvenate.
Release:
The release date for “Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes” in the United States is now set for May 10, 2024. Originally slated for May 24 of the same year, the release was adjusted two weeks earlier to avoid overlapping with the Memorial Day weekend releases of “Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga” and “The Garfield Movie,” ensuring a more strategic positioning in the market.
