The next Planet of the Apes film won’t be a direct continuation of 2024’s Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes, but it might still be in the same universe.
Planet of the Apes is being taken on by Fantastic Four: First Steps director Matt Shakman and writer Josh Friedman, who are making a new story for the series. While their movie is said not to be a continuation of the previous remake storyline, which started in 2011 with Rise of the Planet of the Apes, 20th Century Studios President of Production Steve Asbell hinted that it might not be a total reboot, but a different sort of continuation.
After the release of 2024’s Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes, Steve Asbell revealed another film in the series was in development and set to be released in 2027. It is currently unknown whether this film is the same one to be created by Shakman and Friedman, but it is noteworthy that Asbell was the one to comment on the concept of this next film being a continuation, given his prior announcement.
It is also worth considering that Rick Jaffa and Amanda Silver, producers from earlier in the series, are returning to produce this film. Not only is Friedman a very accomplished writer, having also written for the two latest Avatar films, but he also produced Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes, meaning he may be more familiar with the right direction for the series.
Though the last film ended on a cliffhanger, the series is known for time jumps. War for the Planet of the Apes ended Caesar’s trilogy storyline, with Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes picking up centuries in the future in a world shaped by his struggle and legacy, while following a new cast and adventure. Though Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes ended with a cliffhanger, its events could influence future stories in the same way its predecessor did.
We likely won’t know more about the next instalment for a while, but if you’re interested in watching the recent reboot series or any of the other past films, like the original series from 1968 – 1973, they can be found on Disney+.
