Kingdom of the Planet of the Apesjumped forward in time to put thePlanet of the Apesplatform on a new trajectory after the epic Caesar trilogy of the 2010s, buta surprise scene that included Caesarmight have been one of the most important in the entire movie. Set roughly 300 years after the events ofWar for the Planet of the Apesinthe overarchingPlanet of the Apestimeline,Kingdom of the Planet of the Apesexplores how ape society has evolved since Caesar’s death, and how different sects of apes have carried on his creed.
With Caesar (Andy Serkis) long-since dead at the beginning ofKingdom, it seemed unlikely that he would make a true appearance in the movie.ThePlanet of the Apesfranchisehas brought back a dead character before though, with Koba returning to Caesar in a freezing fever dream. While there was speculation Caesar could return in a similar form, the reality was far more impactful. Before jumping ahead 300 years,Kingdom of the Planet of the Apesbrought the story all the way back to Caesar’s ending.
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Kingdom Of The Planet Of The Apes Opened With Caesar’s Funeral
The Emotional Scene Puts An Exclamation Point On Caesar’s Story
War for the Planet of the Apessaw Caesar lead his apes to freedom before succumbing to the wounds he sustained while attempting to destroy the base of the Alpha Omega army battalion. He died peacefully, fading away in the arms of his friend Maurice while watching his son Cornelius play, finally free from the threat of humanity. It was a simple yet beautiful conclusion to Caesar’s story, and it left the door open for future stories following the surviving apes. However,Kingdom of the Planet of the Apesopened with a scene that theoretically took place later that night.
Before story details became available, many believed that the young ape depicted in the first promotional images forKingdom of the Planet of the Apeswas in fact Caesar’s son Cornelius, who took up his father’s mantle.
The scene opens with Maurice positioning Caesar’s body atop a funeral pyre, surrounded by the surviving apes from Caesar’s large “family”. A number of apes bring small flowers to adorn Caesar’s body, and when they’re finished the pyre is set ablaze. As the apes look on, Maurice raises his arms to give the “Apes together strong” symbol of two side-by-side fists, which immediately spreads throughout the crowd as Cornelius looks up and watches. It’s a powerful reminder of how profound an impact Caesar had on apekind, and a fitting tribute to the character that breathed new life into the franchise.
Caesar’s Funeral Was The Perfect Way To Bridge Kingdom And The Previous Trilogy
It Was The Ideal Metaphorical Passing Of The Torch
The funeral scene also acted as the perfect setup forKingdom of the Planet of the Apes, as it served as a reminder of what Caesar’s original intent was: for all apes to unify in peace. That reminder of his intentions is the perfect segue into the events ofKingdom, which sees a new generation of apes that have long-since forgotten Caesar’s teachings. The main character, Noa (Owen Teague), spends the first movie suffering from the consequences of apes warping Caesar’s words and taking his name to justify their own control over apes and humans alike.
Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes - Key Details
May 10th, 2024
$160 million
$397.3 million
80%
77%
While the original reboot trilogy focused on Caesar and his journey to free apes from captivity and lead them to a better future, it’s clear that the new set of movies starring Noa will focus on Caesar’s legacy, in its many forms. While Caesar certainly preached peace between apes, he also sought to keep peace with humans, believing that apes could and should be better than the species that tortured and enslaved them. That notion appears about to be tested, asthe ending ofKingdom of the Planet of the Apesteases; Caesar’s funeral is a necessary reminder of the original, peaceful endgame.
