The official trailer for The Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes was just released on YouTube, creating quite a buzz among movie enthusiasts. This upcoming film seems to be a nostalgic journey, harking back to the roots of the story and paying tribute to the original 1968 movie.
Directed by Wes Ball, known for his work on the Maze Runner series, the movie features a cast including Owen Teague, Freya Allan, Kevin Durand, Peter Macon, and William H. Macy. It serves as the sequel to the 2017 hit, War for the Planet of the Apes, and marks the fourth installment in the rebooted Planet of the Apes franchise.
The previous trilogy, consisting of Rise of the Planet of the Apes, Dawn of the Planet of the Apes, and War For the Planet of the Apes, received widespread acclaim from both critics and audiences alike. However, there are rumors that the latest addition to the franchise is not faring well in test screenings, raising concerns among fans. Despite the success of its predecessors, it remains to be seen how this new installment will be received by audiences when it hits the big screen.
Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes Test Screening Went Poor
Remember Caesar, the wise ape leader from the trilogy? Well, it’s been six years since his story ended, and now a new generation of apes is taking center stage under a new director. But things aren’t looking good.
The latest installment in the Planet of the Apes series, titled Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes, reportedly had a test screening in Burbank, California, that didn’t exactly wow. According to Jeff Sneider, who shared insights on the screening, the audience consensus was not favorable, with the film being described as “a stinker.” Comparisons were drawn to the high standard set by Matt Reeves’ work in the previous trilogy.
“Disney had a test screening of Apes recently and my sources tell me it went over very poorly. I heard the movie is a stinker,” he said.
The journey for Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes began in 2019 after Disney acquired 20th Century Fox, and significant parts of the script were reportedly developed during the pandemic. Filming concluded in February of the previous year, and the release is scheduled for May 2024.
Despite the setbacks in the test screening, fans and critics will have to wait until the official release to form their opinions on this new chapter in the iconic franchise.
No Andy Serkis, No Party?
Andy Serkis, the man behind the revolutionary performance of Caesar in the recent Planet of the Apes reboot, is sadly missing from the upcoming installment. His groundbreaking performance, thanks to motion capture technology, added a whole new level of emotion and realism to the character, making him the heart of the series.
Now, with the fourth installment of the franchise on the horizon, fans are feeling a bit uneasy about Serkis’ absence in the upcoming film. The director of the new movie, Wes Ball, confirmed that Serkis won’t be part of this project, disappointing many loyal fans. However, in a ray of hope, Ball hinted at the possibility of Serkis returning to a different role.
In an interview with Slash Film, Ball shared,
“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.”
Serkis, known for his role in Avengers: Age of Ultron, infused depth and authenticity into the CGI-generated character of Caesar, which resonated deeply with audiences worldwide. Now, without Serkis, it remains to be seen how the latest installment will capture the essence that made the previous films memorable.
Kingdom Of The Planet Of The Apes is eyeing a 10 May 2024 theatrical release
