Untitled Planet of the Apes Film

20th Century Studios is developing a new entry in the Planet of the Apes franchise with director Matt Shakman and writer Josh Friedman. The duo, who previously collaborated on The Fantastic Four: First Steps, are crafting an original story set in the franchise's ape-dominated world. Unlike Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes (2024), this film will not be a direct continuation but a fresh narrative developed by Shakman and Friedman. Shakman will produce alongside longtime franchise producers Rick Jaffa and Amanda Silver, with Scott Aversano overseeing for the studio. The project remains in early development with no production schedule or casting announced. Friedman has deep ties to 20th Century, having co-written Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes, Avatar: The Way of Water, and Avatar: Fire and Ash for the studio.