Recent reports suggesting the next Planet of the Apes installment might be a total reboot have been met with some pushback from 20th Century Studios. While initial leaks implied the upcoming film would not be a direct "continuation" of Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes, industry leaders are hinting at a more nuanced connection to the existing lore.

Is the New Planet of the Apes Movie a Reboot?

The confusion began following reports from Deadline, which suggested that the next entry in the franchise would move away from the established timeline. This news sparked frustration among fans who felt that frequent reboots make it difficult to remain emotionally invested in the series' long-term stakes.

However, 20th Century Studios boss Steve Asbell recently took to social media to challenge the idea of a hard reboot. In a cryptic response to the rumors, Asbell stated: "I guess it depends on how you define 'continuation?'"

While Asbell did not provide specific plot details, his comment suggests that the new film may still exist within the same universe or era as Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes. Potential narrative directions could include:

  • Focusing on a different ape clan during the same historical period.
  • Featuring recurring side characters from previous films.
  • Exploring parallel storylines that don't directly follow Caesar or Noa’s specific journey.

Future of the Planet of the Apes Trilogy

The development of this new project is currently being led by Matt Shakman, director of The Fantastic Four: First Steps. Shakman is working alongside Josh Friedman, the writer behind Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes, to craft an original story.

Although Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes was intended to launch a new trilogy, the path forward has been complicated by director shifts. While the studio confirmed plans for a sequel shortly after the last film's release, director Wes Bell’s involvement in The Legend of Zelda film may have impacted the immediate development of a direct follow-up.

The stakes remain high for the franchise following the massive cliffhanger at the end of the last film. The character Mae delivered a critical hard drive to a secret human base, enabling communication via satellites. This setup implies a looming conflict where humans may attempt to rally and push back against ape dominance—a storyline that fans hope will be addressed in some capacity, even if the next movie takes a different narrative path.