In 2024,Kingdom of the Planet of the Apessignaled a new era for the iconicPlanet of the Apesfranchise, yet there is one new character who harks back to the reboots' best villain. The fourthinstallment in thePlanet of the Apesreboot series,Kingdom of the Planet of the Apescenters on Noa, a young ape who sets out to save his peopleafter they are kidnapped by a neighboring kingdom. Unlike the three movies that preceded it,Kingdomdoes not focus on Caesar, but instead, is set 300 years after his death.
Kingdom of the Planet of the Apesquickly establishes itself as different from itsPlanet of the Apespredecessors.Kingdom’svast time jumpplunges audiences into a completely new world of apes and humans, where apes are superior to humans but have not yet joined forces as a united community. Through Noa’s eyes, viewers see how Caesar’s beliefs in peace and independence for apes has morphed into something far more dangerous. Yet, even with all these changes,Kingdomstill manages to include hints of the priorPlanet of the Apesreboot movies.
Proximus Is The Perfect Replacement For Koba (If The Kingdom Villain Isn’t Dead)
How Proximus & Koba Are Similar
Onecharacter inKingdom of the Planet of the Apeswho seemingly harks back to the earlier reboot movies is Proximus. At first glance, Proximus may seem like a stand in for Caesar. Not only has he taken on Caesar’s name (Proximus Caesar), but he also maintains control over a significant population of apes. However, in reality, Proximus is more like Koba than Caesar.Like Koba, Proximus rules with fearrather than kindness. Furthermore, he has a vendetta against humans, intending to use their inventions for his own purposes. Proximus shows what it would be like if Koba had ruled.
Because of this, Proximus is the perfect Koba replacement. Although the first threePlanet of the Apesreboots introduced a number of different villain characters, Koba was the most compelling. Caesar managed to persuade Koba to join his side inRise of the Planet of the Apes, earning his loyalty. Yet, Koba’s pride and penchant for violence eventually led him to betray Caesar. Proximus faced a deadly fateat the end ofKingdom,but if he returns,he could follow a similar path as Koba; he could ally with Noa only to destroy him later on.
Why Killing Off Proximus Caesar For Good Would Be A Mistake
Noa May Need Proximus In The Future
Kingdom of the Planet of the Apesmay have “killed” Proximusat the end of the movie, but his death shouldn’t be permanent. Aside from his connections to Koba, Proximus is a unique character. He may be cruel, but he is a persuasive leader and his intentions are somewhat fair. He wants to protect the apes. In this way,Proximus could play an important role in the nextPlanet of the Apesmovie.Considering that the humans are trying to regroup, they may put up a fight against the apes, and the only character equipped to fight back is Proximus.
Kingdom Of The Planet Of The Apes' Sequel Is More Important To The $2.5 Billion Franchise Than You Imagine
The upcoming sequel to Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes will tie the modern reboot franchise with the original series in one important way.
Based on his relationship with Mae, it is clear that Noa is more curious about humans than hostile. Unfortunately, this could end up being a detriment to him, as Mae seems motivated to get revenge against the apes. If Noa isn’t prepared for Mae’s betrayal, it could be catastrophic for him and his village. Therefore,Proximus' return could give the apes a chance to defend themselves. Of course, Proximus' beliefs would inevitably clash with Noa’s, but they would be forced to work together for the sake of the apes' survival. This would create a captivating and complex story.
Proximus Caesar Is A Very Different Villain From Koba
Koba Failed, But Proximus Is A Sign Of The Future
Proximus is an ideal Koba replacement, not only because of their similarities, but also due to their differences. Proximus is clearly violent, but he isn’t nearly as jaded as Koba. As shown inDawn of the Planet of the Apes,Koba does not crave power as much as he craves revenge. The opposite could be said for Proximus. More than anything, he wants control over the apes and humans, and his desire for more power is insatiable. Ultimately,Proximus' ability to lead a large group of apes makes him more dangerous than Koba, even if he isn’t as cuttthroat.
Based on what the originalPlanet of the Apesmovies showed, Proximus' kingdom is what Earth may look like in hundreds of years.
Additionally,Proximus is a villain that has a future, something which Koba never had. Koba’s desire was to hurt the humans, and he succeeded. Caesar defeated him, but not before Koba caused irreparable damage to ape and human relations. On the other hand, Proximus built a kingdom and maintained control of it until Noa and Mae showed up. His plan is more far-reaching than Koba’s, and could pick back up if he ends up being alive. Based on whatthe originalPlanet of the Apesmoviesshowed, Proximus' kingdom is what Earth may look like in hundreds of years.
Kingdom Of The Planet Of The Apes’ Sequel May Need A Lot Of Returning Characters
Kingdom Of The Planet Of The Apes 2 Should Not Leave Its Old Characters Behind
If Proximus does return in theKingdom of the Planet of the Apessequel, that would mean that other characters would also likely return.Noa, Raka, and Mae are particularly important figures whose stories should continuein another movie. Ultimately, all of these character returns would lead to some inevitable and awesome moments in the sequel. For example, Noa beat Proximus in battle, so their reunion would be of the utmost importance in the new movie. On top of that, Mae’s attempt to thwart Proximus' plan would give him a vendetta against her and humans at large.
Rise of the Planet of the Apes
2011
Dawn of the Planet of the Apes
2014
War for the Planet of the Apes
2017
Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes
2024
Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes Sequel
2027
In the same way thatKingdomshould not let Proximus truly die, the sequel should not jump to a new set of characters.Kingdomset up a really compelling cast in Noa, Mae, and Proximus, and like the movies before it,Kingdomshould carry onwith these storylines. It will be interesting to see what the humans' next move is, how Noa develops into a stronger leader, and how Proximus may get his revenge. All in all,Kingdom of the Planet of the Apeshas created a vivid world that needs to be expanded even further.
