Disney and 20th Century Studios are shifting the trajectoy of the Planet of the Apes franchise by developing a new film that departs from the plot of Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes. This upcoming project will feature an original story and a brand-new cast, effectively sidelining the characters of Noa and Mae.
The $397 milllion gamble to abandon Noa and Mae
The decision to pivot comes as a surprise given the commercial and critical viability of the 2024 release, Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes. according to the report, the film earned 397 million dollars worldwide and maintained an 80 percent score on Rotten Tomatoes, suggesting a strong appetite for the story of the ape lead Noa and the human lead Mae, played by Owen Teague and Freya Allan.
By moving away from these characters, Disney and 20th Century Studios are ignoring a narrative foundation that was specifically desined for expansion. The 2024 film ended with Noa and Mae on a collision course, a cliffhanger that many fans expected to be the catalyst for a new trilogy. Abandoning this momentum suggests the studios are prioritizing a total creative reset over the incremental growth of established characters.
Matt Shakman and Josh Friedman's new direction
The creative leadership for the next entry has shifted significantly. As reported, Matt Shakman,the director of The Fantastic Four: First Steps, is now collaborating with Kingdom screenwriter Josh Friedman to develop this new original story. This pairing suggests a desire to blend the established lore of the series with Shakman's specific stylistic approach, which has been noted for its retro sensibilities in previous Marvel Cinematic Universe projects.
This change in leadership coincides with the departure of Kingdom director Wes Ball, who has transitioned to directing a live-action The Legend of Zelda film.. The source indicates that development on a direct sequel to Kingdom never truly gained traction , and no writer was ever officially tasked with penning a follow-up script for the original leads.
A 60-year tradition of shifting protagonists
While the move may frustrate fans of Owen Teague and Freya Allan, the Planet of the Apes franchise has a long history of rotating its central figures. Over its nearly 60-year existence, the series has transitioned from the early focus on Cornelius and Caesar to the modern trilogy led by Andy Serkis's Caesar, and eventually to the distant future seen in Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes.
This pattern aligns with Disney's brader strategy since acquiring 20th Century in 2019, which has focused on reviving legacy Fox properties through a mix of reboots and spin-offs, such as Alien: Romulus. By treating the Planet of the Apes IP as a flexible anthology rather than a linear narrative, Disney can lower the barrier to entry for new viewers who may not have seen the previous installments.
Steve Asbell's ambiguous definition of "continuation"
Despite the announcement of a new cast, there remains a sliver of uncertainty regarding the timeline. 20th Century Studios boss Steve Asbell previously suggested in a since-deleted X post that the definition of "continuation" is open to interpretation.. This leaves a critical question unanswered: will Matt Shakman's film exist in the same continuity as Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes, or is this a complete timeline reset?
Furthermore, it remains unclear if Noa and Mae will make cameo appearances or if their stories are permanently closed. While the report states they are unlikely to factor into the next film, the studios have not explicitly ruled out a return to those characters in a later project, provided the Shakman-led film performs well at the box office.
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