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In a galaxy far, far away, where apes reign supreme, director Wes Ball appears to be planning on revolutionizing thePlanet of the Apesfranchise by transforming it into a sprawling sci-fi saga akin toStar Wars.Going bigger and better with each film, shooting for the stars seems to be the only possibility awaiting theKingdom of the Planet of the Apessequel.
Although the plan hasn’t been officially confirmed, it seems the only possible outcome, considering how the concept of space and extraterrestrial happenings has been a recurring part of thePlanet of the Apesfranchise. Further, considering Wes Ball’s desire to steer the franchise towards the 1968 original movie, a route through the cosmos seems the only way.
While this might be a far-fetched dream, a closer look at the franchise’s trajectory and Ball’s vision could determine whether this audacious plan would pay off or ruin the franchise.
Kingdom of the Planet of the ApesSequel Might be Aiming for the Stars
Building upon the rich lore established in thePlanet of the Apesfilm series, Wes Ball delivered the 10th entry to the 56-year-old franchise. With each installment going bigger and better,Ball’s 2024 sequel releasedon May 10, blew people’s minds and kept the audiences consistently at the edge of their seats.
“If we couldn’t crack that, I wouldn’t have made the movie”: Wes Ball Would’ve Never Made Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes Had He Broken His 1 Rule
But now, following the release of the fourth sequel in the rebooted film series that began with Rupert Wyatt’sRise of the Planet of the Apes, fans are wondering where exactly the current continuity is going to eventually lead us.
Given that Franklin J. Schaffner’s 1968 originalPlanet of the Apesmovie narrated the tale of an astronaut traveling through time to land in a far future ape civilization, people are curious to know ifWes Ballis planning on a similar directive.
Since eachPlanet of the Apesmovie, following the 1968 installment played with the concept of space, fans believe the film series might finally end up with aStar Wars-like narrative.Tim Burton’s 2001 reboot, conveniently showed the Oberon space station near Saturn before Leo was pulled through an electromagnetic storm.
Similarly, even Wes Ball’sKingdom of the Planet of the Apesshowed Noa and Mae gazing through a telescope, wherein Noa became fascinated by the solar system and became obsessed with Saturn.
Thus, with each passing movie improving the narrative for thePlanet of the Apesfranchise, Wes Ball might be planning to shoot for the stars quite literally, with his next installment. Coming up with a whacky yet intriguing narrative, fans assume that Ball might just take his next film galactic.
Wes Ball Confirmed on Edging Closer to the Events of the 1968 Installment
Perhaps, Wes Ball is actually planning on steering the franchise towards the originalPlanet of the Apesstoryline. During a conversation withDen of Geek, the filmmaker actually addressed his subtle ideas on ultimately navigating the franchise towards Franklin J. Schaffner’s 1968 story of astronaut George Taylor’s (Charlton Heston) arrival in the year 3978.
The truth is that we have these three Caesar films behind us. We’re starting from there. But way off in the distance is that Charlton Heston ’68 version. It’s a long way to get there. There’s plenty more stories to tell before we ever get there, but that is what’s in our sights.
Considering Wes Ball’s idea of gradually taking the franchise towards its original storyline of venturing into outer space, it seems to be the reason why the previousPlanet of the Apesmovies have been paying subtle tributes to the 1968 installment. Take Rupert Wyatt’s 2011 movie, it’s offered a nod to the Icarus space shuttle from the originalPlanet of the Apes.
“Too bad you are too old to play Link”: Wes Ball Made the Right Call Rejecting Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes Actor For a Major Role in Live Action Zelda Movie
Further, even Wes Ball’s 2024 sequel mirrored the hunt scene from Franklin J. Schaffner’s movie. Although during the interview with the outlet, Ball seemed reluctant to suggest if they’reready to retell Schaffner’s original story, yet, fans believe the 1968 installment is what they are chasing towards.
The Possible Outcome of Wes Ball’s WhackyStar Wars-like Sequel
Therefore, since Wes Ball mentioned how there’s still time and other storylines to explore before venturing into the cosmos following the originalPlanet of the Apesmovie, we believe the nextKingdom of the Planet of the Apessequel might get deeper into aStar Wars-like storyline. Expanding the scope of the series, Ball’s next movie might embark on a quest to outer space.
While it might be an audacious twist that holds great risks, Wes Ball’s bold direction could open the door to a myriad of thrilling possibilities from interstellar conflicts to mind-bending cosmic mysteries. Although the outcome could either propel the franchise to new heights or spell its downfall, before even taking the franchise toward its original storyline, Ball’s visionary sequel holds great potential.
Only time will tell whether Wes Ball’s visionary sequel will become the next cultural phenomenon or face the daunting task of living up to its legacy.
Kingdom of the Planet of the Apesis running in theaters worldwide.
Krittika Mukherjee
Senior Writer
Articles Published :3217
Krittika Mukherjee is a Senior Entertainment Writer at FandomWire, majorly focusing on films, TV shows, and celebrity news with over 3,000 articles published. With an educational background in Journalism, and a keen interest in filmmaking, Krittika blends factual precision with creative flair, when crafting her editorials, or dissecting fan theories.Her coverage often includes news and analyses of critically acclaimed films, celebrity news, and franchises like the Wizarding World, LOTR, DC, and MCU—particularly Harry Potter, Fantastic Beasts, Superheroes, and fan theories. As a Wizarding World aficionado, Krittika has spent countless hours exploring hidden backstories, unadapted book moments, spells, and trivias surrounding J.K. Rowling’s lore.An imaginative writer with a way with words, Krittika has worked as an entertainment journalist for the past two years and a web content writer for a year. She brought her experience and expertise to FandomWire to pursue her desire for sipping coffee while dissecting films and tracking celebrity drama.
