One of the Best Sci-Fi Movies of the 21st Century Takes Place in 2026 & It Needs a New Sequel This Year

by

There are so many great science fiction movies from this century, it’s hard to pick just a few. Films like Minority Report, Inception, Interstellar, District 9, and Arrival demonstrate the genre’s incredible storytelling potential. One often-overlooked series that deserves recognition is the rebooted Planet of the Apes. It began with 2011’s Rise of the Planet of the Apes, which was a surprisingly successful and well-received film. The sequel, Dawn of the Planet of the Apes, was even better, expertly expanding on the first film’s ideas to create a complex and thoughtful post-apocalyptic story about the struggle for survival between two species in a changing world.

With its strong writing, compelling performances, and thrilling action, Dawn of the Planet of the Apes is a truly exceptional science fiction film – one of the best of the last quarter-century. It’s always a good time to revisit this movie, but this year feels especially right. The film is set in 2026, and fans are hoping to hear updates on the next Planet of the Apes installment this year as well.

The Planet of the Apes Franchise Needs to Continue

Following the huge success of Dawn of the Planet of the Apes (which earned over $710 million worldwide), two more films were made. War for the Planet of the Apes continued Caesar’s story and provided a moving conclusion. Then came Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes, which jumps forward in time to tell a new story with new characters, focusing on a chimpanzee named Noa. Like the previous films, Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes received good reviews and did well in theaters, earning nearly $400 million globally, and paving the way for future installments.

There haven’t been many updates regarding the next Planet of the Apes movie. While 20th Century Studios announced a sequel to Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes in late 2024, with a possible 2027 release, 2025 passed without any progress. Currently, no filming has begun, no actors have been cast, and a director hasn’t been chosen. To meet a 2027 release date, development needs to start quickly. For comparison, Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes filmed from October 2022 to February 2023, allowing for a May 2024 release. The complex CGI apes mean these films require a lot of post-production work.

The next Planet of the Apes movie is expected to gain momentum around 2026. Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes showed there are still compelling stories to tell in this world, particularly focusing on Caesar’s legacy and the evolving relationship between humans and apes. The film introduced a strong new lead character in Noa, who grew significantly throughout his journey and emerged as a leader. The ending also left things open for future movies, with Mae helping humans connect with others, and a central question remaining: can humans and apes coexist peacefully? This storyline hasn’t been fully explored yet.

While the Planet of the Apes films don’t generate the same blockbuster numbers as some of Disney’s biggest franchises, they still have a dedicated and enthusiastic fanbase. It would be disappointing if Disney decided to end the series, even though Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes earned less at the box office than previous installments. Moviegoing habits have changed a lot recently, and Kingdom was essentially a fresh start with a new story. It’s not really a fair comparison to the earlier films. Now that the new characters and direction are established, a sequel could build on this foundation, similar to how Dawn of the Planet of the Apes expanded the story years ago. Kingdom was one of the best science fiction movies of 2024, and fans deserve to see where the story goes next.

What do you think? Leave a comment below and join the conversation now in the ComicBook Forum!

https://comicbook.com/movies/news/kingdom-of-the-planet-of-the-apes-sequel-everything-we-know-about-the-next-apes-movie/embed/#

Read More

2026-01-07 18:42