Started way back in 1968, the Planet of the Apes franchise has come a long way from its simian roots. After reboots and new iterations, the series ushered in a new direction following Rupert Wyatt’s 2011 flick, Rise of the Planet of the Apes, which introduced the character of Caesar.
Now more than a decade later in actual life and about 300 years as per the lore, the latest edition, Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes, starring Freya Allan has kick-started a new saga.
The latest turn of events finds the apes as the dominant species on the planet and humans reduced to a feral state. In the twist of proceedings, as Allan’s character gains center-piece attraction and starts becoming pivotal to the story, easter eggs can be drawn to her all the way back to the start of the franchise.
A prominent detail hidden in plain sight boasts several references to the roots while also signaling teases for the future.
Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes gave Freya Allan’s character a perfect name
Centuries after the rule of Caesar and the events of 2017’s War for the Planet of the Apes, Earth has a new working order. In a world dominated by apes, Freya Allan’s character, Mae, a feral human, stands out in the former’s eyes due to her heightened intelligence and wit.
The chain of happenings leads her to being named Nova by the apes. Interestingly, this serves as a poignant meta-reference bearing easter eggs to the start of the franchise.
In the 1968 movie, Planet of the Apes, which birthed the franchise, a primitive human woman played by Linda Harrison, bore the same name, on the planet where Charlton Heston’s astronaut character George Taylor landed. Moreover, in the Tim Burton 2001 remake of the same name, Lisa Marie played the character of Nova, who then was a chimpanzee with a dislike for humans but who could speak the tongue.
Finally, in the 2017 Matt Reeves movie, Nova was the character responsible for the spread of the enhanced Simian flu and the eventual collapse of human civilization. Regardless, on the brighter side, the name also stands for hope and change, which could be a tease about her shaping up the planet in the future.
The latest addition to the franchise rakes in big numbers
Released in theaters on May 10 this year, the star-studded cast along with Freya Allan’s flawless acting in the storyline involving her brewing close bond with the young chimpanzee Noa pushed the flick ahead at the box office despite tough competition. Going head-to-head against the likes of Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga, The Garfield Movie, and IF, the Wes Ball directorial swept past $306 million globally.
The numbers put it shy of the $490 million haul by its predecessor and miles below the $710 million collection of Dawn of the Planet of the Apes. Regardless, the numbers are expected to shoot up in the coming weeks even as the film has already made up for its budget of $160 million.
Lastly, for the actress’ career, Freya Allan would appear next alongside Liam Hemsworth in season four of The Witcher, positive developments for which have started to brew.
