“I did not start this war. I offered you peace. I showed you mercy. And now you are here…to finish us off. For good.” That’s Caesar, the glowering Ape King and bona fide anchor point of 20th Century Fox’s lucrative Apes franchise.
Brought to life with remarkable nuance by the great Andy Serkis – arguably one of Hollywood’s greatest talents in the mocap suit – by the time we reach War For the Planet of the Apes, Caesar’s tolerance of humanity is beginning to wear thin, particularly when Woody Harrelson’s power-hungry Colonel wages war on the simians in order to restore mankind’s place at the top of the food chain.
And so, as today’s all-too-brief trailer tease attests, Caesar and his ape army lock horns with humanity once more, resulting in a level of spectacle befitting a summer blockbuster. Even at only 10 seconds in length, it’s a neat primer ahead of tomorrow’s grand trailer reveal, and we’re intrigued to discover how Matt Reeves and Co. harken back to the original classics. One of the more overt reference points is Amiah Miller’s Nova, a character played by Linda Harrison across the original Planet of the Apes films. Reeves and Co. chose to weave Nova into the plot of War in an attempt to rekindle Caesar’s sense of empathy – empathy that has in many ways been pegged back by not only humanity’s self-destructive nature, but also the discord within his own simian ranks.
War For the Planet of the Apes charges into theaters on July 14th and if it’s more coverage you’re after, look no further than our exclusive chat with star Judy Greer. Remember to check back with WGTC tomorrow as well, for the full trailer reveal.