Groot is most well-known as a member of the Guardians of the Galaxy, with the Marvel Cinematic Universe putting the tree creature on the map in terms of popularity. Recently receiving an animated spin-off of his own, Groot is easily the breakout cast member of the Guardians of the Galaxy movies. That's likely why Marvel Studios is supposedly developing a Planet X movie, which could put Groot in a film eerily similar to another sci-fi franchise.
Likely based on the I Am Groot comic book, a Planet X film would be highly reminiscent of the Planet of the Apes movies. Featuring Groot trying to save an enslaved human girl, the series' most notable plot shines a light on Groot's early days before he met Rocket Raccoon. Here's how such a story being adapted to film would turn Groot into Caesar.
I Am Groot Showcased the Modern Origins of a Guardian of the Galaxy
The original version of Groot, created by Stan Lee, Larry Lieber and Jack Kirby, was one of many monsters that dotted the pages of Marvel Comics back in the early Silver Age. Though his origins would establish him as an alien tree-like creature from Planet X, he wouldn't quite become the figure that fans of the Guardians of the Galaxy movies would know him as until much later. After the success of those films, Groot was given a new origin in the pages of I Am Groot.
Here, the "flora colossi" denizens of Planet X captured beings from other planets, with one of their victims being a young human girl from Earth named Hannah. Kept in a containment tube, Hannah caught the eye of the young Groot, who came to disagree with the tactics of his people. Though he rescued Hannah and got her safely back to Earth, Groot was despised among the other flora colossi species and banished from his homeworld of Planet X. Wandering throughout the galaxy for years on end, he would eventually meet Rocket Raccoon and later join the Guardians of the Galaxy.
Marvel Studios' Planet X Movie Would Turn Groot Into Planet of the Apes' Caesar
Given the lack of focus on the planet in other stories, if a Planet X film or TV adaptation is made, it will likely be based on these early adventures of Groot. That will make the tentative movie essentially a cosmic version of Planet of the Apes, which is ironic because the latter was owned by Fox, which is now owned by Disney. And with a new Planet of the Apes film on the way, Disney could tread similar territory via two different properties.
By wanting to do away with the conflict between his people and humans, Groot would be taking the role of Caesar from the more recent Planet of the Apes trilogy. In those films, Caesar ultimately wants to live away from humans but is also at peace with them. It even sees his group take in a young human child named Nova, who they protect as one of their own. If Groot is synonymous with Caesar in Planet X, Hannah could become Nova's stand-in. Other similarities could come from Cornelius and Zira, the main apes from the first three movies of the original Planet of the Apes franchise. They disagree with the harsh treatment and enslavement of humans and even come to befriend the stranded astronaut George Taylor.
While Planet of the Apes is rife with social commentary and allegory, a Planet X movie showcasing the origins of Groot would likely be a much lighter affair. Even with dark elements such as the flora colossi capturing other beings, any film in the MCU centered around Groot will have all manner of comedic antics and feel-good moments. That will help to keep such a film from appearing too close to its obvious inspiration while Groot gets to monkey around in his "first" cinematic adventure.