Planet of the Apes is one of the longest-running IPs in Hollywood. The franchise is gearing up for another run at the box office with the upcoming film Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes. The movie has been directed by Wes Ball. It is set to be a continuation of the previous films in the series that were directed by Matt Reeves and Rupert Wyatt.
Although Reeves has not returned to the franchise for the latest movie, Wes Ball made it clear that he has a great deal of admiration for what the filmmaker has achieved within the series already. In fact, Ball had words of condemnation for the Oscars committee for failing to recognize Reeves’ movies for their special effects artistry.
A New Take On Planet Of The Apes
A new Planet of the Apes saga began in 2011 with Rise of the Planet of the Apes, directed by Rupert Wyatt. The movie shows the beginning of a revolution when a chimpanzee named Caesar gains human-like intelligence. Matt Reeves joined the franchise as director for its sequels, Dawn of the Planet of the Apes (2014) and War for the Planet of the Apes (2017).
Reeves’ two movies went deeper than ever before into ape lore, tracking Ceasar’s rise as a rogue simian who eventually starts his own ape dynasty and wages war on humankind. Andy Serkis takes on another highly acclaimed motion capture performance after Gollum in the role of the proud and conflicted Caesar.
Missing Out On The Best Visual Effects Oscar
The new Planet of the Apes movies were highly acclaimed by critics and general audiences. Particular praise was given to the realistic animation of the apes and their world. But despite the praise, none of the movies were able to win an Oscar for Best Visual Effects. While promoting Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes, director Wes Ball expressed his displeasure over the matter to AP News:
"Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes" director Wes Ball says it's "criminal" that none of the movies from the franchise have won a visual effects Oscar. He's looking to change that. Bell plans to release a version of the film without visual effects. pic.twitter.com/12mBdn0jmd
— AP Entertainment (@APEntertainment) May 3, 2024
I think it’s criminal that these Apes movies have never won a Visual Effects award. I mean an Oscar. I think it’s crazy. So I’ll do my part to try to change that.
On social media, fans were quick to agree with Ball’s sentiment regarding the lack of appreciation given to the previous Planet of the Apes movies for their ground-breaking visual effects:
He's not wrong, they have all looked ridiculously good
— Pena Cartel 🗿 (@PenaCartel) May 5, 2024
he is not wrong at all. pic.twitter.com/1LkBTTWO0R
— Regie (@byRegie) May 5, 2024
Ball also spoke about his plan to remedy this mistake on the part of the Oscars committee. The filmmaker intends to release a version of his movie without visual effects, so audiences can compare and appreciate the difference that special effects have made to the movie’s final look.
Rise Of The New Kingdom Of The Planet Of The Apes
Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes looks to continue the story of Caesar’s tribe of apes. The movie is set 300 years in the future after the events of War for the Planet of the Apes. While the ape civilization has prospered in that time, humanity has regressed to savage levels and continues in its attempts to take back control over the planet.
Freya Allen stars in the movie alongside Owen Teague in a motion capture performance. Plans are already underway to have the film be the first of a new trilogy of Planet of the Apes movies just like the previous three installments in the franchise.
Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes will release in theaters on May 10
