The apes are evolving—and they might be heading back to where it all began.
With Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes (2024) raking in nearly $400 million globally and earning an Oscar nod for Best Visual Effects, 20th Century Studios has officially greenlit a sequel for 2027. But director Wes Ball isn’t just thinking about one follow-up—he’s daydreaming about a trilogy that could culminate in a full-blown reimagining of the original 1968 film.
🧠 Wes Ball Speaks: “You’re Seeing Just the Beginning”
In a recent interview, Ball teased the arc of Noa, the new central ape hero:
“You are seeing just the beginning of this guy and where he might go… He is forever changed by the end of the movie and will go in places that will hopefully surprise everyone.”
He also hinted that the final shot—Noa gazing at the stars—was no accident:
“We spent a lot of time talking about that last shot… He is thrust into a new chapter in his life.”
Ball’s vision? A darker, more emotionally charged sequel that could be the Empire Strikes Back of this new trilogy. And if the long-term roadmap plays out, we may be heading toward a modern retelling of the original Planet of the Apes—complete with astronauts, time loops, and maybe even a ruined Statue of Liberty.
🧬 The Nine-Film Arc: A Return to the Beginning?
Writers Rick Jaffa and Amanda Silver, who rebooted the franchise in 2011, have hinted at a nine-film epic. If Kingdom is the fourth and the 2027 sequel is the fifth, that leaves room for a final trilogy that could echo the original Charlton Heston storyline—only this time, with Noa as the evolved ape leader and humans as the mysterious outsiders.
Imagine a future where:
- A human astronaut crash-lands on a planet ruled by apes.
- Noa, now a mythic figure, must confront the truth about humanity’s past.
- The ruins of Earth reveal secrets that could shatter both species’ beliefs.
It’s poetic. It’s cyclical. It’s bananas—in the best way.
🎭 Casting the Future: Who Should Join the Saga?
With Owen Teague (Noa) and Freya Allan (Mae) expected to return, here’s a speculative cast list for the next two films:
| Actor | Role Concept | Why It Works |
|---|---|---|
| Rami Malek | Ape philosopher challenging Noa’s leadership | Intense, cerebral, unpredictable |
| Florence Pugh | Human scientist from Mae’s enclave | Charismatic and emotionally grounded |
| Pedro Pascal | Nomadic ape warlord with a tragic past | Gravitas meets action hero |
| Dev Patel | Tech-savvy human diplomat | Smart, soulful, and perfect for interspecies tension |
| Danai Gurira | Militant ape general loyal to Caesar’s original vision | Fierce, commanding, morally complex |
🔮 Plot Possibilities: Seeds of Revolution
Here’s what the next two films might explore:
- 🧠 Tech vs. Tradition: Mae’s satellite key could unlock ancient secrets—or trigger a new war.
- 🦍 Caesar’s Fractured Legacy: Noa must navigate rival ape factions, each claiming to honor Caesar.
- 🌍 Human Resurgence: Hidden enclaves of humans may rise, armed with knowledge and resentment.
- 🚀 Cosmic Echoes: The stars may hold answers—and the final trilogy could bring us full circle to the original film’s premise.
🧠 Final Thought: The Apes Are Watching Us
This franchise isn’t just about fur and fury—it’s a mirror. As Wes Ball puts it:
“It will be super fun to explore what happens next.”
If the apes do return to the ruins of Earth, and if Noa becomes the new mythic Caesar, we may be witnessing one of the most ambitious sci-fi arcs in modern cinema—a journey that began in 1968 and could end in 2030 with a remake that’s both homage and evolution.
Stay tuned. The jungle drums are beating louder than ever.
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