Another Planet of the Apes movie is in the works, and Deadline reports that Matt Shakman (Fantastic Four: First Steps) is set to direct the project from a script by Josh Friedman (Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes).
Plot details are naturally being kept under wraps, but Deadline has heard that this will not be a continuation of Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes. Instead, it will be a new original story that Shakman and Friedman are developing together.
Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes largely told a self-contained story, but it was clearly setting the stage for something more. As a huge fan of the entire franchise, I’m always down for another Apes film, but I do hope that we haven’t seen the last of Noa (Owen Teague) and Mae (Freya Allen). What do you think?
Two years ago, 20th Century Studios president Steve Asbell announced that another Planet of the Apes movie was being developed for a 2027 release. Depending on how quickly things move along, a late 2027 isn’t out of the realm of possibility, but we’ll see if they stick to that plan.
Wes Ball, who directed the last film, said he believed it would be the start of a new trilogy. “From the beginning we thought about this as a trilogy. We had these grand ideas of where it could ultimately go and how it could fit into the legacy of these movies,” he said. “So I’m certainly talking to [the studio] right now about the next story.“
He continued, “Those last three movies were about the end of something. They were about the end of this Moses story. They were about the end of humanity. And we thought, ‘From the ashes of those previous movies, we’re gonna grow a new tree to climb.’ This movie is very much about the beginning of something.” The film was a critical and commercial success, grossing over $397 million worldwide, but it was a step down from the Caesar trilogy. Perhaps 20th Century Studios believes another fresh start is needed.
How do you feel about Matt Shakman directing the new Planet of the Apes movie?