ThePlanet of the Apesfranchise has a long history in Hollywood that traces back over 50 years. Over the years, there have been many different films and television shows to come out of the series. While some entries are certainly better regarded than others, the overallPlanet of the Apesbrand has one of the strongest legacies in Hollywood. It is a pinnacle of franchise filmmaking in the 20th and 21st centuries, and things are only looking up for the series.
The franchise saw a significant resurgence in the 2010s, thanks to the trilogy of films starring Andy Serkis as Caesar and (mostly) directed by Matt Reeves. However, as of a few years ago, the series is under new creative control. ThePlanet of the Apesseries is now part of the Disney empire. Considering Disney’s consistent push to revive and prolong its various film series and franchises, it was only a matter of time before fans were treated to newPlanet of the Apescontent. With a fourth film on the horizon, titledKingdom of the Planet of the Apes,the franchise is set for a big return.
Through looking back at the franchise’s past and looking ahead to what we know about the series’ future, it is easy to see that there is a bright path forward forPlanet of the Apes. Here’s how:
Updated July 30, 2025: With the latest Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes trailer being released, this article has been updated with more information about the franchise and how it might be a big hit following other franchises' disappointing box office results.
The Franchise’s History
Believe it or not,Planet of the Apeswas never originally intended to become a series. The original novel that laid the groundwork for the series was released in 1963. Written by the French author Pierre Boulle, the novel was a bestseller and was soon optioned for a film adaptation by 20th Century Fox. The filmmaking team behind the original 1968 film did not have any plans for a sequel, but after the movie was a smash hit in 1968, the studio convinced them otherwise. Hence, thePlanet of the Apesseries was born, one of the first long-lasting science fiction film franchises.
Since the series’ explosion in the ‘70s,Planet of the Apeshas solidly maintained its place as one of the most revered sci-fi series in cinema. There were several attempts from 20th Century Fox to bring a new film to the big screen throughout the 1980s and ‘90s, but the first newPlanet of the Apesfilm wouldn’t happen until Tim Burton’s remake of the original in 2001. The reaction to that film was not nearly as positive as the studio and Burton had hoped, and though it performed decently well at the box office, a proper sequel to it was never made.
All of the Original Planet of the Apes Movies, Ranked
Beginning in 1968, the Planet of the Apes film franchise has been a commercial success. Here are the original movies, ranked.
It was ten years later that the first film in the latest trilogy,Rise of the Planet of the Apes, would be released. This film was another reboot for the series, only this time around; instead of beginning with an already established world in which the apes were the dominant species,Risedepicted how everything began in the first place. Over the course of the trilogy, with the second two films brilliantly directed by Matt Reeves, the apes became a larger and more intelligent civilization while humanity was wiped out through disease and war. The films chronicled the life of Caesar (Andy Serkis) who was a central figure behind the rise of the apes, as he led their civilization and established their new home on Earth.
The Disney Acquisition
When the final film in the trilogy,War for the Planet of the Apes, was released in 2017, there was already talk of continuing the series beyond Caesar’s story. Matt Reeves had stated that he “absolutely” had ideas for where to take the series next, and there were reports that 20th Century Fox was already in development on a fourth installment in the newly re-establishedPlanet of the Apesseries.
But then along came Disney. With the Mouse House purchasing all of 20th Century Fox’s film and television assets at the end of the 2010s, thePlanet of the Apesfranchise found itself in new hands. Shortly after the acquisition, Disney laid out a number of different brands and series that they saw potential in moving forward, one of which wasPlanet of the Apes.
Despite Matt Reeves no longer being involved, Disney has reassured fans that the latest installment will continue the world established in the last threePlanet of the Apesfilms. The fourth film of the franchise, which is officially titledKingdom of the Planet of the Apes, is being directed byThe Maze Runner’sWes Ball.
Owen Teague will take on the lead ape role in the film. While most people will recognize Teague for his role as Patrick Hockstetter in theItfilms or as the lead inThe Standon Paramount+, he also gave an outstanding performance alongside Haley Lu Richardson in the filmMontana Story.Starring alongside him as the human lead in the film isThe Witcher’sFreya Allan. Executives at Disney were supposedly blown away by Ball’s draft of the script and have plans for the film to be thefirst installment in a newApestrilogy.
Continuing Caesar’s Legacy
War for the Planet of the Apesended with the death of Caesar, the last remnants of humanity being lost to disease, and the apes setting out to find their own new promised land. The fourth installment picks up many generations after the end of the 2017 film.Kingdom of the Planet of the Apeswillfocus on exactly what its title suggests; A kingdom where the primates rule supreme. Within the ape empire, humans are relegated to the sidelines and disregarded. Humans live in hiding, in fear of the apes, being hunted by the superior beings and rounded up to work in camps.
Caesar, played by Andy Sekis in the previous films, is no longer alive. Only his legacy lives on. The mantle has been passed on to Teague’s Nao. Despite first being thought that the lead ape in the film would be Cornelius, the son of Caesar, it has now been confirmed that the lead character is named Nao. The ape kingdom has evolved and is extremely well-developed, speaking fluent English and even abiding by a caste system. The plot ofKingdom of the Planet of the Apesfollows a chimpanzee leader, Proximus Caesar, as he twists Caesar’s teachings to suit his personal motives and builds an empire through the use of technology.
Planet of the Apes: Facts you Didn’t Know About the Franchise
Planet of the Apes has spawned many films throughout its history. Here we see fun facts that have flown under the radar.
Therecently released trailerforKingdom of the Planet of the Apesdepicts not only the ape-on-human violence that the new film is set to showcase but also the ape-on-ape violence that takes place in the film. With the clear division between humans and apes in the narrative, it appears as though Caesar’s notion of harmony between apes and humans no longer exists. However, the trailer also establishes that not all apes are the same. Some still live by Caesar’s teachings. The glimpse into the film introduces viewers to one such ape, the titular character Nao, who appears to be sympathetic towards humans, looking at them in curiosity.
The trailer establishes that the new film will not just center on the ape and human divide in the primate-ruled kingdom. Instead, with a focus afforded to conflict among the apes themselves, a battle between those who disregard Caesar’s teachings and those who still believe in Caesar,Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes,carries forward Caesar’s legacy.
Franchise Model Shifting
2023 has been filled with once former heavy-weight franchises faltering at the box office.Indiana Jones,Transformers,Fast & Furious,Mission: Impossible, and both the MCU and DCEU saw some of their lowest-grossing entries hit theaters. Meanwhile, “new” franchises likeBarbie,The Super Mario Bros.,andFive Nights at Freddy’shave generated big business. This would suggest thatPlanet of the Apesmight suffer a similar fate as those previously mentioned franchises, yet the movie is in a much more unique position.
By the timeKingdom of the Planet of the Apesarrives in theaters, it will have been seven years since the previous film and thirteen years sinceRise of the Planet of the Apes. That is the perfect time amount of time for audiences to grow nostalgic for that trilogy. With those films being positively reviewed, it generates a real sense of excitement to revisit the franchise instead of just being another new entry in a once-popular franchise.
Rumors are already circulating thatmany movies for the summer 2024 season will be delayed due to the ongoing SAG-AFTRA strike, butKingdom of the Planet of the Apeswas finished before, so it might soon find itself to be one of the biggest movies in a very bare summer. All these might culminate in makingKingdom of the Planet of the Apesthe biggest entry in the franchise. The film will premiere on Memorial Day weekend, August 10, 2025.
