A new Planet of the Apes film is in the works from The Fantastic Four: First Steps director Matt Shakman. The film is expected to be yet another reboot of the franchise, as Deadline reports that Shakman is developing an original story separate from the last film, Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes.
Shakman is working on the story with writer Josh Friedman, who penned the script for Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes. Plot details are being kept under wraps, and it’s currently unclear when the film might be released.
The previous film was released in May 2024 and received strong reviews in addition to a solid box office performance. Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes was supposed to kickstart a new trilogy, and 20th Century Studios Boss Steve Asbell stated in October 2024 that a sequel was in the works with a 2027 release date.
It seems like all of that has been thrown out the window or, at the very least, shelved for the time being. It’s also unknown if this direction is the result of Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes director Wes Ball moving on to helm The Legend of Zelda film for Sony. Ball may be more interested in the Nintendo sandbox, and as a result, won’t have the time to do more Apes movies.
It’s also unclear how this might impact future Fantastic Four films, with the superhero team set to appear in Avengers: Doomsday and Secret Wars. Another Fantastic Four may may be further off, and give Shakman time to play with the apes before going back to Marvel. It’s also possible that Shakman passes the baton to another director, but it may be years before we find out what Marvel has planned post-Secret Wars.
Cade Onder is a freelancer for IGN’s news team. He covers all things entertainment, including gaming, film, and more. You can find him on Twitter @Cade_Onder.
