Director Discusses Potential Shakespearean Themes in Sequel to Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes

Despite Caesar’s absence, the franchise is still going strong, as seen in Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes. This latest installment sets the stage for a new chapter in the beloved sci-fi movie series, taking place 300 years after Caesar’s rule. Meet the new lead characters, Noa (Owen Teague) and his human ally Mae (Freya Allen).

“Wes shared with us that our hope and desire is to continue creating more projects. We have a multitude of ideas, and even as we were writing this one, we were already considering our future goals.”

‘KINGDOM OF THE PLANET OF THE APES’ director Wes Ball predicts “Shakespearean stuff”in sequel pic.twitter.com/qHTvxnBBCb

— ScreenTime (@screentime) May 9, 2024

“Naturally, the work must be completed and we require an exceptional script. We won’t initiate anything until we have achieved that. However, we are eagerly anticipating the opportunity to do so.”

Wes describes his experience working on Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes as incredibly fulfilling and enjoyable. He attributes this to the talented cast and crew, as well as the impressive work of the visual effects team at Wētā FX, who utilized performance capture animation to bring the apes to life.

Expanding on the potential themes of a sequel, the director emphasizes the central idea that has been present in all Planet of the Apes films: the possibility of coexistence between apes and humans.

“The movies explore the possibility of coexistence between them. Ultimately, that is the direction we hope to reach,”he concludes.

The future holds many challenges for Noa and Mae, making their relationship with each other all the more important.

“Will the existing relationship between them be sufficient to prevent catastrophic events, or will it be the catalyst for them? I anticipate there will be a plethora of dramatic moments, reminiscent of Shakespearean tragedies.”

The Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes is currently playing in UK cinemas and will be released in theaters throughout the US on May 10. If you are interested in watching the previous Planet of the Apes films, you can find out more information here, and also discover other exciting movie releases for this month.