Behind the Scenes Magic: Unveiling 'Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes' Through Its Visual Effects Journey

  • 02-05-2024 |
  • Taylor Jones

The upcoming home media edition of 'Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes' is set to offer a unique look at the film before visual effects were applied. As disclosed in a conversation with Ape Nation, the person behind the camera shared that fans of the sci-fi drama's sequel will be treated to a version on Blu-ray that showcases the performers in their motion-capture attire, preceding the addition of CGI. This allows audiences to witness the raw dailies of the actors’ performances. "In an extra feature for the DVD, viewers will have the chance to see the film in its raw form – the entirety of it," Ball noted. "We're assembling this so fans can observe the preliminary footage alongside the final product, providing insight into how accurately the two align, the processes involved, and the way everything is seamlessly combined. It's quite the spectacle, offering a firsthand look at the magic behind the scenes," he added.

Furthermore, Ball will be doing voiceover commentary alongside Erik Winquist, the VFX supervisor, enhancing the experience. "This is going to be a real treat, especially for enthusiasts like us. This unveiling of behind-the-scenes magic in such detail is unprecedented," he commented with excitement. He also mentioned, "One of the most complex challenges in VFX is making CG characters convincingly interact with real-life actors. For instance, creating the illusion of a young girl embracing a computer-generated ape raises the question, 'How is this achieved?'"

'Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes' unfolds nearly three centuries following the narrative of 2017’s 'War for the Planet of the Apes.' In this installment, a wild young woman named Mae joins forces with a youthful chimp, Noa, to overthrow the despotic rule of Proximus Caesar. This tyrant has perverted the fabled teachings of Caesar to subjugate chimpanzees in his quest to eradicate remnants of human advancements. The film features talents such as Freya Allan from 'The Witcher', Kevin Durand from 'Abigail', and Owen Teague from 'It'.

The much-anticipated 'Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes' is scheduled to premiere in UK cinemas on May 9, followed by a US release on May 10. In the meantime, explore our selection of the most anticipated films arriving soon.