Planet of the Apes is one colossal franchise in cinema history. It all started in 1968, kicking off a series of successful sequels, later the franchise received a reboot by Tim Burton in 2001. Though that one got mixed reviews, it set the stage perfectly for what Wes Ball has now delivered. Burton’s film introduced audiences to the Andy Serkis series, which has since solidified its own reputation and garnered immense popularity.
Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes not only holds its own but also pays homage to the legacy of past films, beloved by fans worldwide. Ball wouldn’t have made this sort of standalone film if he couldn’t do it justice to the franchise. It’s a clever nod to the franchise’s roots while blazing its own trail al at the same time.
Wes Ball’s One Rule to Make Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes!
Continuing such an immense franchise isn’t easy, so when Wes Ball took on the responsibility for another Planet of the Apes movie, skepticism was natural. To ensure Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes’ epicness, Ball knew he couldn’t ignore the franchise’s rich legacy and its foundational stories.
Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes’ B CinemaScore Isn’t a Bad Thing For the Movie At All – Here’s Why
Thus, he decided to incorporate them to move the story forward. In fact, that was his one rule, if he couldn’t honor the old films while establishing new ground, he wouldn’t have pursued the project. Fans are happy he figured it out. In a recent interview with Slash Films, the director revealed his approach. He revealed,
“Yeah, yeah, that was the key I think for us. If we couldn’t crack that, I wouldn’t have made the movie. If it was just a direct sequel, I personally would not have been interested in it. The fact that we can stand on our own a little bit, but still have this spirit of the previous movies hanging over our story, it gave richness to the story in really unique ways, I think.”
Caesar, the brainy chimp from the rebooted Planet of the Apes series, is a standout leader among his fellow apes. Born from science experiments, he leads a rebellion for ape freedom. His story tackles big ideas that form the very crux of the saga, making him a big part of the franchise even after he’s gone. Wes Ball thus couldn’t ignore his impact, as he explained,
“So, that was a very conscious decision that we got to explore what has happened to the myth and legend of this great ape that we all fell in love with, and how Noa comes to interact with that story, different versions of the story, and how it changes him into this character that he ultimately becomes by the end of the movie — forever changed.”
Witnessing how everything fell into place is truly remarkable. Ball’s deep obsession with the franchise also played a significant role in shaping this version, as he revealed.
“It was great. It was really, really fun to play with, and I was very aware of the expectations and the desire for it to be good. We all had the same desire. I’m a fan of all these movies, the previous three, the original ’68 one especially. So yeah, we hope we’ve made something that fits, that belongs with all these other movies with us. We’re the 10th movie of the franchise over 55 years, and hopefully, we’re one of the good ones.”
The reviews and word of mouth suggest that this is the best installment the franchise has seen in the last few years.
How Did Wes Ball Incorporate the Essence of the Old Planet of the Apes Movies in Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes?
To answer this question, one must truly understand the significance of the original Planet of the Apes in the hearts of the audiences and how the rebooted film series further encapsulates the essence of the franchise.
Ball studied this meticulously, having no difficulty in identifying which elements to incorporate and which traits to leave behind from the old movies. In the same Slash Films conversation, the director of the movie revealed,
“I mean, that’s the beauty of it. We have this great wealth of the Caesar storyline behind us, and we get to look forward to that ’68 version of reality there. And it’s nice guidelines, actually. “
He further explained,
“They’re very far away, so you don’t feel constrained by it at all, but you get to think about, “How did they get to that place and where did that come from?” And we get to explore all that stuff here, which is great. You know what I mean? That’s just good stuff to mine. So it comes from just a place of love of those originals.”
Ball is grateful to contribute to the legacy of the film and possibly add more in the future. What makes this film even better is that despite drawing deep inspiration from the old films, it has its own backbone and essence amidst it all. All in all, it’s a must-watch for sure!
Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes is now playing in theaters.
