Since Disney snapped up Fox, we've wondered how many of the latter's films and franchises would make the leap to the new conjoined company. Now The Hollywood Reporter brings word that early development work is underway on a new Planet Of The Apes film, with The Maze Runner's Wes Ball overseeing the progress.
What isn't known right now is the actual concept for the new film – will the Mouse House decide to go the reboot route and start a new continuity, potentially with the planet already ruled by its simian overlords. Or will it (and this would surely be preferable), conjure up the next chapter in the story of how the world fell to the apes in the first place, following on from Rise, Dawn and War For The Planet Of The Apes. Matt Reeves, who made the last two, has since moved on to The Batman is naturally not involved, but Ball feels like someone who could handle the story going forward. Whether Andy Serkis plays any part (he was central ape figure Caesar in those three current modern era Apes movies, but that character - spoiler alert – perishes at the end of War) is for the future to answer, but for now he's also busy (he's back with Reeves, gearing up to play Alfred in The Batman and has his own directorial projects to consider).
Ball had been working on his own next step, an adaptation of graphic novel Mouse Guard, but that was shelved when Disney took control of Fox. Looks like they've found him another animal sandbox to play in. Hang on, that sounds too much like a litter tray and no one should play in those.