A new Planet of the Apes movie is in development at 20th Century Studios. Director Matt Shakman will lead the project. Josh Friedman will write the script, reprising his role from the last film in the franchise, 2024’s Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes.
However, this upcoming film will not be a sequel to its 2024 predecessor, according to Entertainment Weekly.
The film remains in early development. Studio representatives have not released a title, story details, or a production schedule.
Matt Shakman and Josh Friedman Join the New Planet of the Apes Movie
Matt Shakman recently directed The Fantastic Four: First Steps. He also worked on television projects including WandaVision and Monarch: Legacy of Monsters. In addition to co-writing the previous Planet of the Apes film, Josh Friedman also contributed to Avatar: The Way of Water.
TheWrap reported that Shakman will produce the new Planet of the Apes movie alongside longtime franchise producers Rick Jaffa and Amanda Silver.
Director Matt Shakman in an interview about Fantastic Four – YouTube, Comicbook.com
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Current information suggests the project will return to a world where apes remain the dominant species. However, the story is not expected to directly continue the characters introduced in Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes.
The Planet of the Apes Franchise Continues to Evolve
The Planet of the Apes series has changed direction several times since the original 1968 film starring Charlton Heston. That movie led to multiple sequels during the 1970s and later inspired a 2001 remake directed by Tim Burton.
The modern reboot era began with Rise of the Planet of the Apes in 2011. Rupert Wyatt directed the film, which introduced Caesar, a genetically enhanced chimpanzee portrayed through motion-capture performance by Andy Serkis.
Caesar from Rise of the Planet of the Apes – YouTube, Planet of the Apes
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The reboot storyline continued in Dawn of the Planet of the Apes and War for the Planet of the Apes. Matt Reeves directed both films. Those movies focused on the collapse of human civilization and the growth of ape society.
Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes Expanded the Timeline
Director Wes Ball released Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes in 2024. The film took place generations after Caesar’s death and introduced a new group of ape and human characters.
The story centered on Noa, played by Owen Teague, and Mae, played by Freya Allan. The ending suggested future conflicts between human survivors and ape civilizations, leaving room for a sequel.
(L-R): Noa (played by Owen Teague) , Freya Allan as Nova and Raka (played by Peter Macon) in 20th Century Studios’ KINGDOM OF THE PLANET OF THE APES. Photo courtesy of 20th Century Studios. © 2024 20th Century Studios. All Rights Reserved.
Director Wes Ball commented about the possibilities saying, “We certainly think there is a lot more story to be told, not just in the Planet of the Apes legacy of it all, but in terms of these characters we’ve created and the arcs that we’re thinking about. So, yeah, we’ve got good ideas for what would come next.”
However, Ball is currently working on the live-action Legend of Zelda film and does not appear to be attached to this next Planet of the Apes film.
No Release Date for the New Planet of the Apes Movie
20th Century Studios has not announced a release date for the new Planet of the Apes movie. The studio also has not confirmed casting information or production timelines. More details are expected after development moves further forward.
The franchise remains one of the studio’s longest-running science fiction properties. Across several decades, the films have explored themes involving survival, leadership, and conflict between species.
What do you think of the next installment of the Planet of the Apes franchise? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
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