New Planet of the Apes in development, first details

And it's the duo behind Fantastic Four: Marvel's First Steps, director Matt Shakman and screenwriter Josh Friedman, who have been chosen to write and direct this new installment. The franchise's longtime producers, Rick Jaffa and Amanda Silver, will also be returning. The only real surprise in this announcement is that this film will not be a direct sequel to Planet of the Apes: The New Kingdom, released in 2024. A film that seemed to be laying the groundwork for a new cycle within the saga. Where will the new Planet of the Apes fit within the saga? Instead, it will be an original story, currently in development, although details remain confidential for now. In terms of chronology, the film could therefore take place almost anywhere in the franchise's universe. The saga began in theaters in 1968 with an initial series of five films, before Tim Burton's independent remake in 2001. The modern iteration was then relaunched with Rupert Wyatt's Rise of the Planet of the Apes in 2011, followed by two sequels directed by Matt Reeves, Dawn of the Planet of the Apes and War for the Planet of the Apes. The real explanation lies elsewhere. Released in 2024, New Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes grossed $397 million worldwide, on an estimated budget of between $120 and $160 million. This remains, ultimately, the most plausible explanation for why a new film in the franchise is currently in development. As for the rest, it will probably be necessary to see this as the usual "belt, suspenders, and parachute" approach of the moment, the new mantra of studios when it comes to developing films "safely".