Planet of the Apes Gets a New Movie — Fantastic Four Director Matt Shakman Takes the Helm

Planet of the Apes Gets a New Movie — Fantastic Four Director Matt Shakman Takes the Helm

If you thought 2026 couldn't get any wilder for franchise news, hold my banana. 20th Century Studios just confirmed that a brand-new Planet of the Apes film is in development, and it's bringing in some serious heavy hitters to make it happen.

Matt Shakman, the director behind this year's The Fantastic Four: First Steps, is stepping away from Marvel's cosmic sandbox to helm the next chapter of the legendary sci-fi franchise. He'll be working alongside writer Josh Friedman, who co-wrote Avatar: The Way of Water, Avatar: Fire and Ash, and 2024's Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes. Producers Rick Jaffa and Amanda Silver — longtime architects of the modern Apes series — are also on board.

A Fresh Start, Not a Sequel

Here's where it gets interesting. According to reports from Deadline, this won't be a direct continuation of Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes, which was directed by Wes Ball and grossed a solid $397 million worldwide. Instead, Shakman and Friedman are developing an entirely new original story set on the planet where apes reign supreme over humanity.

That's a bold move. The franchise has already gone through multiple reboots and timelines — from the classic 1968 original starring Charlton Heston to Tim Burton's 2001 remake, and the modern trilogy of 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). Starting fresh again means taking a real risk, but pairing Shakman with Friedman — who already knows this world inside out — could pay off big.

Why Matt Shakman? The Director Behind WandaVision and Fantastic Four

If you're wondering who Matt Shakman is, you've definitely seen his work. He earned an Emmy nomination for directing WandaVision for Marvel Studios, which is what got him the Fantastic Four: First Steps gig. That film pulled in $521 million at the global box office last summer, proving he can handle massive franchise properties with confidence.

Beyond Marvel, Shakman has directed pilots for Monarch: Legacy of Monsters, The Consultant, Welcome to Chippendales, and The Great starring Elle Fanning and Nicholas Hoult. His next project? He'll helm the pilot and finale of Wild Things featuring Jude Law and Andrew Garfield.

The Planet of the Apes franchise has amassed over $1.7 billion in worldwide box office since the original 1968 film — based on Pierre Boulle's novel — became a cultural phenomenon and won a special Academy Award. With Shakman's track record and Friedman's deep franchise knowledge, 20th Century Studios is clearly betting this next iteration will keep that momentum going.

No release date yet, no cast announcements, and plot details are locked down tighter than Caesar's rebellion. But one thing's clear: the Apes are far from done evolving.