Wes Ball didn't just reboot a franchise with Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes; he basically handed us a map to a world we weren't quite ready for. Now, everyone is buzzing about Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes 2, and honestly, the speculation is getting a little out of hand. Some people think we’re heading straight into an 1968 original remake, while others are convinced Mae is a secret astronaut. Most of that is probably wrong.
It’s been a minute since Noa and Mae stood on that hill, looking at a sky that felt way too big for both of them. That ending wasn’t just a "to be continued" trope. It was a line in the sand.
Where the story actually goes from here
Director Wes Ball has been pretty vocal about the fact that this wasn't ever meant to be a one-off movie. He’s envisioning a trilogy. Maybe even more. When we look at the trajectory of Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes 2, we have to look at the power vacuum left behind by Proximus Caesar. He was a tyrant, sure, but he was also a unifying force. Without him, the coastal clans are basically just groups of apes with no direction and a very big, very empty bunker full of human "magic."
Noa isn't Caesar. He isn't trying to lead an exodus to a promised land. He’s just trying to figure out how his Eagle Clan fits into a world that is suddenly much larger than their home. The next film will likely lean heavily into the "Shattered Kingdom" vibe. Think of it like the fall of Rome, but with more climbing and less concrete.
The Mae problem and the human resurgence
Let’s talk about Mae for a second. Freya Allan played her with this desperate, sharp-edged intensity that makes you realize humans aren't the victims anymore—they're the insurgents. The satellite array at the end of the first film was a massive "we are here" signal to other pockets of humanity. In Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes 2, the central conflict isn't just ape vs. ape. It’s about the return of human technology.
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If humans get their voices back, the apes lose their advantage. It’s that simple.
Some fans are theorizing that the humans Mae contacted are at a base like Icarus or even a surviving military installation in the mountains. This isn't just about survival; it's about reclaiming the planet. The tension between Noa’s burgeoning civilization and the remnants of the old world is going to be the engine that drives the sequel. Honestly, it’s kinda terrifying to think about Noa trying to negotiate with people who view him as a lab accident.
Evolution isn't just biological
In the previous trilogy, we saw the apes go from pets to revolutionaries. In this new era, we’re seeing them become politicians. That’s a huge shift. Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes 2 will likely dive deep into the ideological split within ape society.
On one side, you have the teachings of Raka—the true, peaceful intent of Caesar. On the other, you have the remnants of Proximus’s "Apes Together Strong" perversion of those teachings. Noa is stuck in the middle. He has Caesar’s book, but he also has the memories of what human weapons can do.
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The pacing of the next film will almost certainly mirror the shift we saw between Rise and Dawn. The first movie established the new status quo; the second movie will blow it all up. We’re looking at a world where the apes have to decide if they are going to become the very thing they overthrew.
Technical hurdles and the 2026 production window
The visual effects from Weta FX in the first film were staggering. The "wet fur" tech alone was a masterclass in CGI. For Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes 2, the challenge is scale. We aren't just looking at one village anymore. We’re looking at potential human colonies and larger ape cities.
Disney and 20th Century Studios haven't slapped a definitive date on the calendar yet, but the development cycle for these movies is notoriously long because of the performance capture. You can't just rush the "ape-ness" of it all. Actors like Owen Teague spend months in "ape school" just to get the gait right.
Why the "Astronaut" theory is a distraction
You’ve probably seen the Reddit threads. "When is Taylor coming back?" "Is the Icarus landing in the next one?" Look, Wes Ball is smarter than that. Jumping straight into the 1968 timeline would be a massive mistake. It would rob Noa of his own story. Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes 2 needs to be about the bridge to that era, not the destination itself.
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The beauty of this franchise is the slow burn. It’s the tragedy of watching two species who could cooperate instead choose to destroy each other. If we get astronauts too soon, the stakes for Mae and Noa disappear.
Key takeaways for the next chapter
- Expect a time jump. Not a huge one, but enough for Noa to have established a new leadership role and for Mae’s "friends" to have mobilized.
- New environments. We’ve seen the coast and the overgrown cities. The sequel will likely move inland, perhaps toward the "Forbidden Zone" areas hinted at in the lore.
- The weaponization of knowledge. The books and tech found in the vault will be the new "fire." Whoever controls the information controls the future.
- Raka’s legacy. Don't be surprised if Raka isn't actually dead. In movie logic, if you don't see a body in the water, they’re coming back for the sequel.
The real heart of the next movie will be the relationship between Noa and Mae. They are two individuals who genuinely respected each other but are fundamentally diametrically opposed by their biology and history. It’s a Shakespearean tragedy played out with motion capture.
What to do while you wait:
- Re-watch the 1968 original. Not for the plot, but for the world-building clues Wes Ball is sneaking into the background.
- Track the Weta FX updates. Their technical breakdowns often hint at the types of environments being built for the next installment.
- Pay attention to Freya Allan’s interviews. She’s been the most candid about where Mae’s head is at regarding the "betrayal" of the apes.
The wait for Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes 2 is going to be long, but if the first chapter was any indication, the payoff is going to be massive. We're watching the birth of a planet, and it's not going to be a peaceful delivery. Keep an eye on the trades for official casting calls, as new ape tribes will definitely be introduced to flesh out the expanding map of North America.