Marvel Comics has announced that Planets of the Apes is returning to the publisher with new stories launching in 2023.

Having first published Planet of the Apes comics stories in 1974, the property is now returning to Marvel with a line of new stories beginning early next year. “We’re thrilled to welcome Planet of the Apes back to the House of Ideas!” said Marvel Comics Editor-in-Chief C.B. Cebulski. “The new saga in the pipeline is going explore the limits of what this beloved franchise has to offer through bold comics storytelling, and we look forward to setting foot on this new adventure!”

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Marvel Lands Planet of the Apes Rights, Announces New Series

The Planet of the Apes teaser cover comes from artist Salvador Larroca. Marvel plans to announce details on upcoming Planet of the Apes titles, creative teams, collections and reprints at a later date.

Planet of the Apes was originally published as 1963 French novel by Pierre Boulle. The novel was adapted into a film, Planet of the Apes, in 1968. Directed by Franklin J. Schaffner and starring Charlton Heston, Planet of the Apes follows a group of astronauts who are sent out to space and crash land on what appears to be an alien planet where intelligent apes have taken over and enslaved humans. The end of the film reveals the astronauts aren't visiting an alien planet but are actually stuck on a futuristic Earth that's been destroyed by nuclear war. Several sequels, reboots, television series and other media tie-ins followed the success of the film, including Tim Burton's 2001 Planet of the Apes reboot and 20th Century Fox's Planet of the Apes reboot trilogy starring Andy Serkis.

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Planet of the Apes has had a presence in comics since 1968. Marvel's Adventures of the Planet of the Apes, which published in the mid-1970s, featured adaptations of the Planet of the Apes films along with new storylines and additional content. The franchise bounced around between a number of different publishers over the following years, including Malibu Publishing's Adventure Comics, Dark Horse Comics, BOOM! Studios and more.

Disney confirmed that a new Planet of the Apes film is in the works in 2019 following the company's acquisition of 21st Century Fox. Maze Runner's Wes Ball is attached to direct the picture, which does not yet have a release date. "In relation to the other brands -- Marvel, Star Wars, Pixar, Disney Animation -- we are closer to what you call 'general entertainment' on the TV side," 20th Century Studios president Steve Asbell previously said of Disney's plans for the franchise. "Some films will be more Disney-adjacent -- Avatar, Free Guy, Planet of the Apes — and some films will be edgier."

Source: Marvel