Set in the murky depths of a world where the lines between man and beast are blurred, the saga of Caesar, the revolutionary leader of the apes, has captivated audiences around the world.
From his humble beginnings as an intelligent but misunderstood chimpanzee to becoming the iconic figure of an ape uprising, Caesar’s journey is one of courage, sacrifice, and, ultimately, legend.
Here, we look at the lasting impact of Caesar’s story and explore the new destinies that unfold in a world he reshaped. Join us as we look at the mysteries and legacies intertwined in this stunning continuation of the cinematic masterpiece.
Who is Caesar?
A fictional character from the Planet of the Apes series named Caesar. In both the original series and the reboot series, he serves as the leader of the apes.
Roddy McDowall played Caesar in the films Conquest of the Planet of the Apes (1972) and Battle for the Planet of the Apes (1973). Tarzan on the Planet of the Apes (2016) is a comic series featuring Caesar’s likeness once again.
In the reboot series, which included Rise of the Planet of the Apes (2011), Dawn of the Planet of the Apes (2014), and War for the Planet of the Apes (2017), the character was played by Andy Serkis.
Caesar is the patriarch of the royal ape family, the leader of the ape army, and the ruler of the ape colony.
What happened to Caesar in Planet of the Apes?
At the conclusion of War for the Planet of the Apes, Caesar was killed. The new Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes movie, which was initially supposed to focus on Cornelius, Caesar’s son, has brought the series back to life.
But as the first teaser showed, the real star of the film was Noah, played by Owen Teague. You may be wondering if Caesar is included in the new movie at all or if he’s just ignoring the first three films.
We can confirm that Caesar appears in Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes (sort of), though the entire plot is clouded by the legacy of the previous trilogy and Caesar’s role in it, without going into specific spoilers.
The Final Apes Trilogy culminates in the War for the Planet of the Apes, which brings an end to the conflict.
An anonymous human colonel notices that humanity is deteriorating and beginning to resemble the silent, stupid animals from the opening of the 1968 film Planet of the Apes.
After taking a captive from Caesar’s tribe, he has them erect a wall to keep out traces of the US military who think he has gone mad. Caesar spends the entire movie releasing the apes from their confinement.
He was successful, but when his people finally experienced the freedom they had always desired, he was shot and died. The Colonel and all of humanity die in the process of de-evolution.
What the previous Planet of the Apes cycle had only suggested is now being achieved through transformation. Caesar abandons everything in the hope of seeing his people liberated, and acts as a kind of ape Moses.
Like the biblical character, Caesar guides his people to the “Promised Land,” but dies before setting foot there, even if he dies looking upon its abundant splendor.
In previous films, Caesar appears as an inspiration whose work continues for generations, but his efforts prove insufficient.
The situation turns around in War for the Planet of the Apes, when we see him die peacefully while his people finally achieve the blessing he had hoped for.
What is Planet of the Apes?
An American science fiction media franchise called Planet of the Apes features films, novels, television shows, comic books, and other media about a post-apocalyptic world in which humans and super-intelligent apes vie for dominance.
The 1963 book La Planète des Singes by French author Pierre Boulle, sometimes known as Monkey Planet or Planet of the Apes in English, served as the inspiration for the series.
The 1968 film adaptation of Planet of the Apes was a critical and financial success and sparked a wave of follow-ups, tie-ins and parodies.
