Sequel to Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes Confirmed by 20th Century Studios Exec

The wait for more adventures in the Planet of the Apes universe is officially over. In a recent interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Steve Asbell, President of the 20th Century division at Disney, confirmed that Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes will receive a sequel. Fans were unsure if the Apes saga would continue after this summer’s box office hit, but Asbell has now revealed a 2027 release window for the next installment.

Discussing the studio’s future, Asbell noted that revitalizing 20th Century’s major franchises under the Disney umbrella has been a top priority. With recent hits like Avatar: The Way of Water, Prey, Alien: Romulus, and Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes, the studio believes they’ve found the right formula for success. Asbell hinted at what’s to come, saying, “There’ll be another Apes [film] in ’27, let’s just say.”

This timeline suggests that the next Apes movie will follow a familiar pattern: previous films in the series, such as Rise, Dawn, and War, were released three years apart. After a seven-year gap between War for the Planet of the Apes and Kingdom, the franchise seems ready to get back on track with more frequent releases.

The conclusion of Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes left plenty of room for future storylines. Owen Teague’s Noa emerged as the leader of the Eagle Clan and vanquished Proximus Caesar—or so it seemed. Noa’s new understanding of Caesar’s teachings hints at the potential for harmony among apes, but Mae’s storyline (played by Freya Allan) complicates things.

With Mae’s discovery that bunkers full of healthy humans are still alive, the question of whether apes and humans can coexist remains unresolved. The tension between Noa and Mae in their final scene—complete with Mae hiding a pistol behind her back—hints that another war may be brewing.

Despite the uncertainty around the franchise’s future after Kingdom’s release, the film performed well at the box office, grossing over $397 million worldwide. While it didn’t surpass its predecessors globally, it did outperform 2017’s War for the Planet of the Apes at the domestic box office by $25 million. Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes currently ranks as the 10th highest-grossing movie of the year, reaffirming the audience’s enthusiasm for the series

With a 2027 sequel officially in the works, the Planet of the Apes franchise is set to continue its journey, balancing complex narratives and thrilling action.

What are you hoping to see in the next installment of the Apes saga? Will Noa and Mae’s uneasy truce hold, or is another war inevitable? Share your thoughts in the comments!