The next Planet of the Apes movie is taking a sharp turn away from Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes, leaving the future of Noa and his fledgling ape society uncertain. As first reported by ScreenRant, the next film is not expected to continue the story introduced in 2024. Instead, 20th Century Studios is developing an original chapter with The Fantastic Four: First Steps director Matt Shakman and writer Josh Friedman.
That change is surprising because Kingdom was designed to launch another long-form era for the franchise. Set generations after Caesar’s reign, the movie followed Noa, a young chimpanzee whose home is destroyed by a rival clan. Owen Teague provided Noa’s performance, while Freya Allan played Mae, a human whose connection to the old world made her central to the film’s larger mysteries.
20th Century Studios’ own synopsis presented Kingdom as a new beginning: apes had become the dominant species, while humans survived in the margins of civilization. The film was directed by Wes Ball and released on May 10, 2024. Before its release, Ball described the project as the opening chapter of a planned trilogy, and studio president Steve Asbell later said another Apes movie was being targeted for 2027.
The new direction does not necessarily erase Kingdom, but it does make its intended continuation much less clear. Early reporting describes Shakman and Friedman’s project as an original story rather than a direct sequel, with the plot and setting still being kept secret. TheWrap reports that Shakman is also producing alongside franchise veterans Rick Jaffa and Amanda Silver.
There is a potentially useful creative link behind the apparent reset: Friedman worked on both Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes and The Fantastic Four: First Steps, while Shakman directed Marvel’s first family in that film. Their reunion gives the new movie continuity behind the camera, even if the story is moving away from Noa. It also suggests the project may be less a total restart than a new entry point within the broader world of intelligent apes.
Still, abandoning an established protagonist so quickly carries a real risk. The modern trilogy built its emotional identity around Caesar, and Kingdom appeared ready to pass that responsibility to Noa. Switching leads before his journey has properly developed could make the previous film feel like an isolated prologue rather than the foundation of a new saga. Polygon likewise reports that the coming film will return to a world where apes rule, but will tell a fresh story.
For now, there is no confirmed cast, plot synopsis, trailer, or firm release date for Shakman’s Planet of the Apes. The biggest unanswered question is whether the movie will remain in the continuity of the rebooted films that began with Rise of the Planet of the Apes, or use its “original story” label as a way to rebuild the franchise from the ground up. Either way, fans expecting Noa’s next chapter may be waiting for a movie that no longer appears to be coming.
