Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes (2024 Film)

Plot

Set 300 years after the events of War for the Planet of the Apes, the story centers on Noa, a young chimpanzee from a falconry-practicing clan. After a raid led by the ruthless Proximus Caesar results in the destruction of Noa's village and the death of his father, Noa sets out on a quest to rescue his abducted clan. He is joined by Raka, a wise orangutan who shares the teachings of Caesar, and Mae, a human scavenger who reveals crucial information about a vault containing lost human technology. Together, they confront Proximus and his army, culminating in a battle that questions the future coexistence of apes and humans.

Cast

Apes:

• Owen Teague as Noa: A young chimpanzee hunter from a falconry clan.
• Kevin Durand as Proximus Caesar: An ambitious bonobo monarch who seeks human technology.
• Peter Macon as Raka: A wise Bornean orangutan and ally to Noa.
• Lydia Peckham as Soona: A female chimpanzee and Noa's love interest.
• Travis Jeffery as Anaya: Noa's best friend.
• Sara Wiseman as Dar: Noa's mother.
• Neil Sandilands as Koro: Noa's father and clan leader.
• Eka Darville as Sylva: Chief commander of Proximus' army.
• Ras-Samuel Weld A'abzgi as Lightning: A soldier in Proximus' army.
• Karin Konoval as Maurice: The Bornean orangutan from previous films (cameo).

Humans:

• Freya Allan as Mae: A young woman with a secret agenda who joins Noa.
• William H. Macy as Trevathan: An opportunistic human teaching Proximus about human history.
• Dichen Lachman as Korina: Leader of a human satellite base.

Production

Development began in April 2019 after Disney acquired 20th Century Fox. Wes Ball was confirmed as director in December 2019, and much of the script was written during the COVID-19 pandemic. Principal photography took place in Sydney from October 2022 to February 2023. Erik Winquist served as visual effects supervisor, with Wētā FX handling the visual effects. John Paesano composed the film's score, incorporating Jerry Goldsmith’s original themes.

Release

The film premiered at the TCL Chinese Theatre in Los Angeles on May 2, 2024, and was released in the United States on May 10. It has grossed over $249 million worldwide, making it one of the highest-grossing films of 2024.

Reception

Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes received generally positive reviews, with an 80% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes and a Metacritic score of 66. Critics praised the visual effects and performances, though some noted it did not reach the heights of its predecessors. Audience reception was favorable, with a CinemaScore of "B."

Future

Plans are underway for Kingdom to be the first film in a new trilogy, continuing the legacy of the previous reboot films. Director Wes Ball and the production team have expressed interest in further exploring the narrative and themes introduced in this installment.