Full Breakdown
Matt Shakman and Josh Friedman to Lead New *Planet of the Apes* Film
5/6/2026, 10:22:11 PM
New Installment Announced for 20th Century Studios
After the success of *Fantastic Four: First Steps*, director Matt Shakman and screenwriter Josh Friedman have been tapped to create a fresh entry in the *Planet of the Apes* franchise for 20th Century Studios. Shakman will direct and co-produce, while Friedman will write the screenplay with producers Rick Jaffa and Amanda Silver. Sources say the project will be an original story set on the planet where apes dominate, not a sequel to *Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes*. Plot and casting remain undisclosed.
Background of the *Planet of the Apes* Franchise
The franchise began with Pierre Boulle’s novel adaptation released by 20th Century Fox in 1968, spawning four theatrical sequels and two TV series. A 2001 remake by Tim Burton followed, and a reboot series launched in 2011 with *Rise of the Planet of the Apes*, *Dawn of the Planet of the Apes* (2014), and *War for the Planet of the Apes* (2017). The most recent installment, *Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes*, directed by Wes Ball, earned $397 million worldwide.
Key Creative Figures
Matt Shakman earned an Emmy nomination for *WandaVision* and directed *Fantastic Four: First Steps*, which grossed $521 million globally. He also directed pilots for *Monarch: Legacy of Monsters*, *The Consultant*, *Welcome to Chippendales*, *The Great*, and will helm the pilot and finale of *Wild Things*. Shakman is represented by Untitled Entertainment and CAA.
Josh Friedman co-wrote *Fantastic Four: First Steps* and contributed to *Avatar: The Way of Water* and *Avatar: Fire and Ash*. He also co-wrote *Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes* and is represented by UTA.
Rick Jaffa and Amanda Silver have produced every Apes film since the reboot series began.
Data & Statistics on Recent Franchise Performance
- *Planet of the Apes* franchise total box-office: over $1.7 billion worldwide.
- *Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes*: $397 million global gross.
- *Fantastic Four: First Steps*: $521 million global gross.
Why It Matters
The hiring of a director with recent Marvel experience shows 20th Century Studios’ intent to revitalize a long-running franchise using talent proven in major franchise films. An original story could expand the series’ mythology and attract both longtime fans and new audiences.
What’s Next
The film is currently in the script-development phase. Future updates are expected to include casting announcements and a production schedule, though no official timeline has been disclosed.
