20th Century Studios is officially expanding the legendary Planet of the Apes franchise with a brand-new movie, and acclaimed filmmaker Matt Shakman has been selected to direct the project. The director recently gained major attention for helming The Fantastic Four: First Steps and is now stepping into the world of science fiction once again with the iconic Apes universe.
Joining him on the project is screenwriter Josh Friedman, who previously worked on both Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes and the blockbuster Avatar sequels. Friedman will be responsible for crafting the screenplay for the upcoming installment.
Interestingly, the new movie is not expected to continue the storyline established in Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes, despite the previous film earning nearly $400 million worldwide and receiving positive responses from audiences. Instead, the studio appears to be exploring a fresh direction within the long-running sci-fi franchise.
The recent Apes era began with the successful reboot series launched in 2011, which focused on the rise of Caesar and reintroduced the franchise to modern audiences. That trilogy became one of the most respected science-fiction sagas of the last decade, praised for its emotional storytelling and groundbreaking visual effects.
Producers Rick Jaffa and Amanda Silver, who played key roles in previous Planet of the Apes films, are returning for the new production alongside Shakman. The project will also be overseen by production executive Scott Aversano for 20th Century Studios.
Shakman has steadily built a strong reputation in Hollywood through projects such as WandaVision and Monarch: Legacy of Monsters. His experience with large-scale storytelling and visual spectacle makes him a fitting choice for the next chapter of the franchise.
Although details about the plot and cast remain undisclosed, excitement is already building among fans eager to see how the studio reinvents the beloved sci-fi universe once again.