Summary
- Wes Ball’s future as the director for the “Planet of the Apes” franchise is uncertain due to his commitment to directing “Legends of Zelda,” potentially leaving room for a new director.
- The franchise may need a fresh perspective and a reboot, so finding a director well-versed in science fiction and visual effects is crucial for the success of “Planet of the Apes 5.”
- If Wes Ball is unable to continue with the franchise, Andy Serkis, who has portrayed the leader of the apes since 2011, would be the perfect replacement due to his knowledge of the franchise and previous experience in directing.
After director Wes Ball took the reins for 2024’s Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes, many felt that the future of the Planet of the Apes franchise would be safe and sound, however, this recent director news pokes a hole in this theory. Planet of the Apes is an iconic science fiction franchise that began with the 1963 French novel, “La Planète des singes” and the original 1968 film, Planet of the Apes. From there, the franchise spawned four sequels, a television series, a remake movie, and a reboot film franchise.
Although it seemed like Planet of the Apes would receive a third reboot led by Wes Ball, the likelihood of this has become slimmer. Wes Ball is the director behind the fourth film in the 2011 reboot, Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes. Slated for 2024, hopes are high for the film and for Ball. In the past, Ball has been the director of The Maze Runner film franchise, and before that, he worked as a visual effects artist. Both of these experiences have made him an ideal candidate for the Planet of the Apes franchise, however, Ball may not be the permanent fix many thought he would be.
Planet Of The Apes 5 Might Have To Replace Wes Ball Because Of Legends Of Zelda
Despite the fact that many wanted Wes Ball to take over the Planet of the Apes movies, he may not be available to take on this responsibility now that he is directing Legends of Zelda. Since 2007, the prospect of a Legends of Zelda movie has been rumored, and now in 2023, it is actually happening. The film, directed by Wes Ball, is going to be a live-action adaptation of the popular 1980s video game. Very little is known about the film so far, but anticipation is still high. Arguably, it is greater than another Planet of the Apes reboot. Therefore, Legends of Zelda will likely take precedence for Ball.
In this case, Planet of the Apes will have to find another director to lead the franchise. Someone else will have to join on to make a Planet of the Apes 5, and hopefully, they will be willing to reboot the franchise as well. Ideally, this new director will be like Wes Ball in that they will be well-versed in science fiction movies and will have a good understanding of visual effects in film. Ultimately, it is quite unfortunate that Wes Ball probably won’t continue with the Planet of the Apes franchise. In order to survive, these iconic sci-fi films need a fresh perspective to give them a new life.
Planet Of The Apes Already Has The Perfect Wes Ball Replacement
Though Wes Ball is likely off the table, his replacement is clear: Andy Serkis. Because Serkis has portrayed the leader of the apes, Caesar, since 2011, he is clearly knowledgable when it comes to the Planet of the Apes franchise. It also helps that he is already attached to the projects and understands the process of making them. Furthermore, Serkis has directed before. In 2017, he was at the helm of the Andrew Garfield drama Breathe, and is currently working on an adaptation of George Orwell’s Animal Farm. All in all, Andy Serkis would be an ideal replacement to direct the next Planet of the Apes.
