For a franchise centred on primates, the chronology of Planet of the Apes is more complicated than one might think. There’s the original 1968 film featuring the Statue of Liberty, then four sequels and the 2001 adaptation from Tim Burton, followed by the reboot film series that started with 2011’s Rise of the Planet of the Apes.
Now, an all-new movie with no connection to any of the existing instalments is set to join the list. Deadline reports that Matt Shakman, who directed Marvel Studios’ The Fantastic Four: First Steps, has been tapped to direct the yet-to-be-titled project for 20th Century Studios, with Josh Friedman (First Steps, Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes) writing the script. Rick Jaffa and Amanda Silver, producers on the previous entries, are also on board.
No other details, including a release date, casting, or story specifics, were shared, but the new Planet of the Apes pic will not be a sequel to 2024’s Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes, which collected a successful US$397.3 million at the global box office. It focused on the rise of ape leader Caesar and was directed by Wes Ball, who’s currently at the helm of the upcoming live-action The Legend of Zelda film adaptation, slated for theatrical debut in May 2027.
Set in a post-apocalyptic world where humans and intelligent apes clash for control as the dominant species, Planet of the Apes is the longest-running American sci-fi film series to date. It has grossed over US$2 billion worldwide across the four modern films in the last 15 years, and comprises various sequels, tie-ins, and derivative works.
Alongside First Steps, Shakman’s other notable credits include WandaVision, the pilot episodes of Monarch: Legacy of Monsters, The Consultant, Welcome to Chippendales, and The Great, as well as It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia, Succession, and Game of Thrones.
Si Jia is a casual geek at heart – or as casual as someone with Sephiroth’s theme on her Spotify playlist can get. A fan of movies, games, and Japanese culture, Si Jia’s greatest weakness is the Steam Summer Sale. Or any Steam sale, really.
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Kevin Low
