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Matt Shakman to Direct New Planet of the Apes Film

The move signals 20th Century testing a fresh path for the billion‑dollar franchise beyond a direct Kingdom sequel.

Overview

  • 20th Century Studios set Matt Shakman to direct and produce a new Planet of the Apes movie Wednesday, with Josh Friedman writing and veteran producers Rick Jaffa and Amanda Silver returning.
  • Multiple outlets following Deadline’s report say the project is not a direct continuation of 2024’s Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes and is being developed as an original story.
  • Plot, cast, title, and release date remain unannounced, reflecting an early development phase with details under wraps.
  • Steve Asbell, 20th Century’s production chief, suggested the link to past films is open to interpretation, writing that it “depends on how you define ‘continuation?’”.
  • The pairing reunites the Fantastic Four: First Steps collaborators and extends a marquee franchise that has earned more than $1.7 billion worldwide.