Before Zoe Saldana left fans in awe following her performance as Neyitiri, Andy Serkis was the one who elevated motion-capture technology to new heights. Beloved for playing the diabolical and mischievous Gollum in Peter Jackson’s LOTR trilogy, The Batman Star would once again reinvent the game with 2005’s King Kong by playing the ape.
But while his performance as Kong was impressive, it was the ape he tackled next in the Planet of the Apes trilogy that would once again elevate the medium, which is often considered its pinnacle. With a new installment in the franchise on the horizon, fans are enthralled to revisit the world of the Apes, and the new update regarding its release has them contented.
Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes Will Debut Two Weeks Prior to Its Intended Release
While fans have grown accustomed to delays of movie releases post-pandemic, Wes Ball’s Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes is setting out to be a breath of fresh air. Initially intended for release on 24 May, the film will now hit the big screens two weeks prior in order to avoid clashing with George Miller’s Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga. Reasonably, fans are delighted by the shift, as they can’t wait to revisit the amazing world, which is now being helmed by The Maze Runner director Wes Ball.
Massive W
— Joe (@hzjoe03) January 12, 2024
May 10 just became the highlight of my calendar!
— mimicracy (@mimicracyy) January 12, 2024
I’m excited for this new trilogy since the last one was peak
— Light (@Light02022) January 13, 2024
I’m happy to see big movies getting moved up
— The Real Kratos (@QasimRazaq20) January 12, 2024
— Ian (makes films) (@ianmakesfilms) January 12, 2024
LFG I can’t wait for this movie pic.twitter.com/oho7iR13QQ
— Darrius 🤓🍿 (@ViltrumSoldier2) January 12, 2024
With Owen Teague’s Noa set to navigate the new world built by Caesar, the actor, who received guidance from Andy Serkis before tackling the role, has some big shoes to fill.
Wes Ball Seriously Wanted to Bring Andy Serkis Back for the New Film
Although the absence of Caesar, who died at the end of War for the Planet of the Apes, will be felt greatly, his influence will still be prevalent in the upcoming installment. And while Andy Serkis will not be present in the film, director Wes Ball previously revealed that he seriously entertained the idea of bringing The Batman Star as another ape. Ball even consulted with Matt Reeves, director of the previous two entries, who was also on board with the idea. In the new issue of Empire Magazine (via /Film), he said:
“We talked about it, for sure. Like, ‘Could you play another ape character?’ I entertained that thought for a long time, because I thought it would be f***ing cool. He’s just too iconic, in a way. So we decided it’s probably best to think about future movies where maybe he can come in.”
While not in Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes, fans can hope to see Andy Serkis potentially return to helm the technology once again in future movies, as Wes Ball hasn’t given up on the idea.
Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes will hit theatres on 10 May 2024.
