Science fiction writer Pierre Boulle’s vision of a future in which apes have superseded humans as the smartest race on earth has captivated and intrigued generations of fans since its publication in 1963.
The subject of a series of popular films in the 1960s, a Tim Burton-directed version in 2001, and the recent franchise of cutting-edge CGI-envisioned simians steered to big screen and box office success by director Rupert Wyatt over three films from 2011 to 2017, the Planet of the Apes franchise continues to entertain and attract new audiences.
Now it’s back on screens again, thanks to director Wes Ball, whose Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes sets the action several generations after the events of 2017’s War for the Planet of the Apes, in a world in which pioneering leader Caesar and his exploits have been almost forgotten and humans are a feral species scavenging for survival.
Tymon Smith spoke to Kevin Durand, who plays Proximus Caesar, the villain of the film, the head of a powerful clan who has knowledge of the history of the apes and big plans for their future, but not much regard for their present or the consequences of his hubris.
Were you always a fan of the franchise?
Ever since I was a kid. My mom would reluctantly put it on the TV because she knew I’d end up hiding behind the couch — and then peeking out and hiding again and crying a bit — but I couldn’t stop watching.
I was fascinated by the talking apes. At some point, she explained they were actors — and the seed was planted. Before that, I’d wanted to be an ice hockey player.
What did you think about the idea of this continuation of the saga?
I was a huge fan of the last trilogy, so when they asked me about doing this film, at first I said they shouldn’t mess with it. Then I read the script and thought it was the perfect way to move forward with the story.
We’ve created a self-thinking, self-generating artificial intelligence, and that’s similar to the film in the sense that humans gave the apes a superior level of intelligence, and then the apes superseded them.
What is it about this franchise that’s made it a favourite for generations of moviegoers?
From the perspective of spectacle, if you want to have popcorn on a Friday night and be entertained, these films are phenomenal. If you choose to look beneath the surface, there are a lot of different things we can glean from them. Also, it is awe-inspiring that we share so much DNA with simians. I love to go to the zoo and spend time with the apes, because it’s like looking in a mirror to a certain degree. The way the special effects used in these films have advanced — even since 2017, when War for the Planet of the Apes came out — is mind-boggling. The technology is growing at an exponential rate.
We’ve created a self-thinking, self-generating artificial intelligence, and that’s similar to the film in the sense that humans gave the apes a superior level of intelligence, and then the apes superseded them. There’s a similarity with AI.
What was it like to prepare for a role that’s very physical, but where the appearance is created so much in post-production?
The motion-capture tool gave us licence to let human vanity disappear. We had an ape school, and I got to work with Alain Gauthier, who was phenomenal. We started with the basics — understanding the anatomical differences and similarities between the species — and worked with that knowledge to inform movement first. Then we injected the character into that movement and created the living, breathing creatures you see on the screen.
How do you feel about the final result?
Making the movie was the most fun I’ve ever had. I’ve tried to create this with all my characters — compelling humans for people to watch. I had to play an ape to feel that 150% immersion. When I saw my character for the first time, I was overwhelmed. I had goosebumps and tears running down my face. I felt like I batted for the fences, and it worked.
Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes opens in cinemas on May 10.
Would you like to comment on this article?
Sign up (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.