Matt Shakman to Direct New 'Planet of the Apes' for 20th Century Studios

Overview

• Industry reports, published Saturday, say Shakman has been hired to lead a new film that is not a sequel to Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes.
• Sources cited by Deadline describe an original story set on a world where apes rule, with plot, cast, and release timing still under wraps.
• Shakman is reuniting with writer Josh Friedman, who worked on Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes, to develop the script.
• Longtime franchise figures Rick Jaffa and Amanda Silver are involved on the producing side, according to trade coverage.
• The shift signals another creative reset for a franchise that has repeatedly reinvented itself since 1968 to sustain box-office appeal.