The Planet of the Apes series has captivated audiences for decades with its imaginative storytelling, iconic characters, and thought-provoking themes. From the original 1968 film to recent reboots, these movies explore the complexities of society, power, and what it means to be human through the lens of a world ruled by intelligent apes. Whether you’re a longtime fan or new to the franchise, there’s plenty to discover about the behind-the-scenes magic, creative inspirations, and surprising trivia that shaped this legendary saga. Get ready to go ape as we uncover some fascinating facts about the Planet of the Apes series!
7 Planet of the Apes Series Facts
1. Planet of the Apes is based on a book by French author Pierre Boulle. (Source)
When producers optioned the novel La Planete des Singes for film, the author, Pierre Boulle, thought it would make a terrible film and assumed it would never reach the big screen. He considered the book to be one of his lesser works.
2. The makeup work on the original film was totally original. (Source)
The makeup director, John Chambers, had to make the apes look as realistic as possible, and he drew inspiration from techniques he’d used in World War II to perform cosmetic surgery on deformed soldiers. He also studied real apes for hours on end, drawing sketch after sketch to capture their facial expressions. In the end, it took a crew of 80 makeup artists to transform the actors into apes.
3. There are 11 movies in the Planet of the Apes franchise. (Source)
This impressive world of stories was created between 1968, with the release of the original Planet of the Apes, and the latest 2024 film, Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes.
4. The film Dawn of the Planet of the Apes is a great learning tool for people studying the English language. (Source)
Due to a low number of words per minute, which makes it easier to follow subtitles, and an abundance of action sequences that help visually narrate the story, this film is one of the most helpful to watch for people learning English.
5. The franchise stalled in production until 2011 and the release of Rise of the Planet of the Apes. (Source)
This film depicted the origin story of the ape Caesar and his transformation from a hyper-intelligent lab ape to a revolutionary leader. The film was so successful that it brought new life to the franchise and attracted new fans.
6. The lead actor almost didn’t return for the sequel. (Source)
Charlton Heston, famous for his role as George Taylor, was reluctant to return for Beneath the Planet of the Apes. He didn’t have faith that the sequel would be as good as the first film. He agreed to film on the condition that George Taylor would die at the end of the film.
7. The big twist was thought up at a deli. (Source)
When the producers went to lunch at a deli, they spotted a picture of the Statue of Liberty, which gave them the idea for the film’s iconic twist ending reveal.
Featured image photo credit: Francesco Ungaro
