Once again, the blockbuster phenomenon Planet of the Apes is set to roar back into theaters with Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes, and ready to dominate the box office with sheer force. Critics have already delivered their early verdicts, deeming it one of the franchise’s finest, captivated by its mesmerizing visual effects and gripping storyline.
There is something magical about this franchise, a name that alone is enough to pack theaters to the brim. Despite its majestic and captivating title like Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes, it almost wasn’t going to be the title of the movie. Wes Ball had a different vision in mind.
Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes Initially Had a Star Wars-esque Name That Had to Go!
It’s quite interesting to think that Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes wasn’t always the intended title for the upcoming highly anticipated installment in the franchise. As perfect as it may sound, movie director Wes Ball initially had a different concept in mind. Despite his initial uncertainty, the current title eventually found its place among the plethora of options. In an interview with Gizmodo, Wes Ball revealed the journey behind the scenes. He said,
“I had two different titles, I came in when I was pitching and I had two pieces of concept art that I made. One was Empire of the Planet of the Apes and there was Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes because there’s the whole idea is that it was the first kingdom starting to form. This king, the first king ape. And obviously, we couldn’t do ‘Empire,’ as cool as it sounds… We just kept trying to think about different things and [Kingdom] kept sticking.”
While “Empire” might have had a cool ring to it, the word is already associated with a legendary film in Hollywood history, The Empire Strikes Back. Therefore, to grant this film its own unique identity, “Kingdom” became the fitting choice. The director further disclosed,
“It’s an important franchise for the studio, It’d be naive to think it’s just one [installment]. I think we went into it trying to make sure it was a fulfilling story but there’s this little epilogue that … hopefully promises a lot. You want to see more if we’re lucky enough to make more. That was the idea.”
Fans have eagerly anticipated experiencing the movie’s full glory in theaters for months. With rave reviews adding to the excitement, they can hardly wait any longer to witness the Planet of the Apes saga take over the world once more.
Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes Has A Strong Connection With Its Roots
This installment of Planet of the Apes hits all the right notes. It’s evident that the rebooted film series strides away from rather gradure of its predecessors, opting instead for a more grounded, emotionally resonant storyline, complemented by cutting-edge visual effects. Yet, it does not forget its roots.
While Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes stands as a distinct entity, its tie with its predecessor makes it epic. In a conversation with Dexerto, filmmaker Wes Ball revealed,
“That was the fun of it. Even in the Ceasar trilogy, right? It’s like it starts in the human world, and then the ape comes into it and it becomes an ape story. We have this similar kind of thing here, where we start in the ape world and then this human comes into it, and it becomes this larger thing. These movies function in the way of how humans and apes coexist and how they work together, and all the conflict and drama that comes from that. And so that’s what our hopes are on this film — that it’s really a human and ape story by the end of the movie.”
The magic of it all is evident in the early reviews, making the wait for the movie even more unbearable. With glowing reviews pouring in, fans who’ve been hyped for months thanks to the teasers and trailers simply can’t hold out any longer!
Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes will be released in theaters on May 10.
