Screenwriter Mark Bomback offers a hint about the next Planet of the Apes

Last Updated on August 5, 2021

With DAWN OF THE PLANET OF THE APES being heralded as one of the best movies of the summer (and of the year), sights are already being set on the announced third film in the new franchise which will reunite director Matt Reeves and screenwriter Mark Bomback. With DAWN OF THE PLANET OF THE APES upping the ante on everything the first film delivered, where could the next film possibly go?

Bomback sat down with Creative Screenwriting where he shared a tidbit about the plot of the untitled sequel to DAWN OF THE PLANET OF THE APES.

“The challenge that we’re up against – and I think we’ll be even more aware of it in the next film – is how we circle back to the original franchise’s fundamental premise that apes have taken over the earth and humans are their prey. How do you get back to the 1968 universe that started it all?”

Rick Jaffa and Amanda Silver, who wrote Rise of the Planet of the Apes, did something really brilliant where they launch the Icarus [the spaceship in the original 1968 film]. I remember when I read the draft I said, “What a great idea.” At least the seeds have been planted in our universe to get back to there.”

The Icarus spacecraft seemed like an easter egg nod to the classic Charlton Heston film and less an overt plot thread, but building on details already in the films will make the next sequel feel all the more organic. Hopefully the dark tone and realism in the first two films carries over into the third rather than jumping ahead to the fully functioning ape society.

The third film in the series is slated to hit theaters July 29, 2016.