It looks like the upcoming Planet of the Apes reboot film will be considerably less dark than the previous trilogy under new parent company Disney.
In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, 20th Century Studios president Steve Asbell touched on the company's plans for its new brand. "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," Asbell said. "Some films will be more Disney-adjacent -- Avatar, Free Guy, Planet of the Apes — and some films will be edgier."
By contrasting Planet of the Apes with "edgier" content, Asbell's comments suggest the new entry in the franchise will drop the bleaker aspects of the 2010s trilogy and return to the title's less serious roots. The original 1968 Planet of the Apes film, adapted from French author Pierre Boulle's novel of the same name, was described at the time as more of an adventure thriller than a gritty drama. Legendary film reviewer Roger Ebert called Planet of the Apes "not great, or significant, or profound" and used the words "fun" and "entertaining" when describing the plot.
The Planet of the Apes reboot trilogy was released between 2011 and 2017. The franchise began on the lighter side with Rise of the Planet of the Apes, but the latter two films adopted a grittier tone. Matt Reeves, then known for 2008's Cloverfield and 2010's Let Me In, took over the director's chair for Dawn of the Planet of the Apes and War for the Planet of the Apes. Both films were warmly received by critics and audiences alike, garnering high praise for their complex themes and mature, grounded storytelling. In 2019, Fox first teased a new Planet of the Apes film was in development, and Maze Runner director Wes Ball signed on to direct the movie.
Along with the hints about the new film's tone, Asbell offered an update on its production. "We are expecting a [script] draft very shortly," he said. "We hope to go by the late summer, early fall," possibly referring to when the studio aims to begin filming.
While the 2010s Planet of the Apes trilogy can't currently be found on any streaming services, the films are available to rent or buy digitally through Prime Video, Vudu, Google Play and more.
Source: THR