Several generations after the War, a young ape embarks on a journey that will lead him to question everything he’s been taught about the past. A film by Wes Ball, starring Owen Teague, Freya Allan, Kevin Durand, Peter Macon, and William H. Macy.
KINGDOM of the
PLANET of the APES
Wes Ball
(2024)
Three hundred years after the events of WAR for the PLANET of the APES, Caesar, revered as the first elder, has become a legend respected and worshipped for generations. However, without his leadership to unify the apes, they splinter into the wild, forming separate clans.
Each clan establishes its own way of life, with most abandoning their ability to read and write. Some clans prefer peaceful coexistence with nature, while others, determined to seek power and control, reinterpreted Caesar’s teachings to gain followers.
One such ape is Proximus (Kevin Durand), who believes the evolution he seeks lies hidden behind the unbreakable vault’s doors, where humans once kept their arsenals and technology safe from the apes.
Proximus, determined to open the vault, sends his troops to raid other ape clans and bring back members as a force to breach the vault. He also hunts down a young woman who possesses the map to the vault. Proximus’s troops arrive at the Eagle Clan, destroying it in their attempt to capture everyone. In the fightback, Noa’s father is killed. Standing by his father’s grave, Noa (Owen Teague) vows to bring everyone back home.
On his journey, Noa befriends Rakka (Peter Macon), a wise orangutan who still follows Caesar’s teachings. Rakka decides to accompany Noa after learning a human woman has been following him since he left. Initially distrustful, as the Eagle Clan elders warned everyone to beware of “Echoes,” the name they gave humans, Noa gradually lowers his guard after Rakka urges him to show mercy. Rakka also shares stories of a time when humans and apes lived together in peace.
Once Noa and Rakka gain the young woman’s trust, she surprises them by speaking, a rare ability among the humans they’ve encountered. She introduces herself as Mae (Freya Allan) and explains that her mother taught her to stay silent for her safety. She reveals she knows exactly where Proximus has taken Noa’s family and clan members, because that’s where she’s headed too.
Directed by American filmmaker Wes Ball, from a screenplay by Josh Friedman and based on characters created by Rick Jaffa and Amanda Silver, KINGDOM of the PLANET of the APES is a standalone sequel and expansion of the Planet of the Apes franchise.
The film features beautiful cinematography and incredible CGI special effects that look stunningly realistic, which help bring to life the meticulously crafted apocalyptic dystopian world where humans have fallen and the apes reign supreme.
My favorite part is the relationship between Noa and Mae. Noa seems to trust Mae completely, but Mae remains guarded. Despite Noa saving her life, her loyalty lies with humanity. She’s determined to accomplish her mission, even if it means killing another human. Sadly, the film doesn’t explore this complex ape-human dynamic further.
Despite stunning cinematography, the screenplay doesn’t introduce new ideas to the franchise. It’s essentially a reinterpretation of familiar themes and conflicts, with humans replaced by apes. This lack of originality, however, doesn’t prevent KINGDOM of the PLANET of the APES from being a strong standalone film, its story effective without relying heavily on the previous movies. I hope, maybe in the next installment, the filmmakers could explore something truly unique to the ape perspective, not just their appearances or their ability to climb, but the way they think and react.
KINGDOM of the PLANET of the APES premiered at the TCL Chinese Theatre in Los Angeles on 2 May 2024. It was theatrically releeased in the United States on 10 May.
The 4K Blu-ray release of KINGDOM of the PLANET of the APES is scheduled for August 27, 2024. The disc will feature a 4K HDR10 video presentation with a Dolby Atmos soundtrack. In addition to the theatrical cut, the 4K release will include an “Inside The Lens: The Raw Cut” full-length alternative version with a split-screen comparison.
Bonus features include: an audio commentary with the director, editor, and VFX supervisor; 14 deleted and extended scenes; and the documentary “Inside the Forbidden Zone: Making Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes,” which covers the outdoor production, ape training, and practical/motion capture techniques. A limited edition SteelBook version with exclusive artwork will also be available.
