A new Planet of the Apes film is on the way and many have been questioning what exactly the new film is going to be. In a recent interview, director Wes Ball gives provides fans some relief on "when" it takes place.
Ball confirmed to Discussing Film that his entry into the hallowed science-fiction franchise will be within the continuity of the most recent trilogy of films. This means that the new film will not be a reboot but continue the timeline of Rupert Wyatt and Matt Reeves' highly regarded films.
While Ball, whose big directing credit is the adaptation of Maze Runner in 2014, confirmed that his project is not a reboot, he makes it clear it is not a direct sequel. The director says he has no interested in doing a "part four" but believes the reboot trilogy is the perfect narrative base. While Planet of the Apes has a long history spanning from the initial release of the now iconic 1968 original, the 2010's reboot of the franchise has been lauded by fans and critics.
The original Planet of the Apes is considered to be a seminal science-fiction feature whose influence spans across mediums including video games. While Rupert Wyatt's 2011 reboot was not the first time the franchise tried to re-imagine itself, it stands as one of the more popular entries with the Matt Reeves directed sequels garnering similar praise. In most rankings of the franchise they stand as some of the best.
As for production of the film, Ball confirmed that the recent events surrounding the coronavirus have put a pause on the project. This is not entirely unexpected as the entire entertainment industry has had to handle the pandemic as best it can. The upcoming Mortal Kombat reboot is just one of the impacted films facing delays alongside many others.
While Ball's take on the franchise is still going into new territory, it won't be trying to reinvent some of the best films of the franchise. No expected time frame has been provided but Ball confirms that pre-production is underway.
The Planet of the Apes Reboot trilogy is available now.
Source: Discussing Film