Disney’s “Planet of the Apes” franchise will continue with “Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes” starting production in Sydney.
The announcement was made on Monday at the rebranded Disney Studios Australia, formerly Fox Studios.
The Federal Government has injected $17 million into the project and it will also receive funding through Screen NSW’s Made in NSW fund. The Government said the production would be a major boost to Australia’s screen sector, supporting 0ver 400 jobs and injecting more than $128 million into the Australian economy.
Tony Burke, federal minister for the arts, said the funding was part of the Australian Government’s commitment to strengthening employment and skills development opportunities for all Australian screen workers.
“I’m excited to welcome “Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes” to Australia. This production will support jobs and give our leading digital and visual effects workers the opportunity to showcase their talents to global audiences,” he said.
“Having a small part of the Disney universe right here in Australia is a significant boost to our local industry.”
He also took the opportunity to espouse the potential of Australia’s screen sector.
“Through our incentives, international production companies have the confidence to invest in Australia – to train our screen industry professionals, facilitate research and development in Australia, and to encourage the building of more studios. This is essential for the growth of our entire screen industry and will provide a consistent career pathway for the next generation of Australian talent and filmmakers.”
“Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes” will be directed by Wes Ball, with the story picking up many years after 2017’s “War for the Planet of the Apes”.
Steve Asbell, president of 20th Century Studios, said: “‘Planet of the Apes’ is one of the most iconic and storied science fiction franchises in film history, as well as being an indelible part of our studio’s legacy. With “Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes”, we are privileged to continue the series’ tradition of imaginative, thought-provoking cinema, and can’t wait to share Wes’ extraordinary vision for this new chapter with audiences in 2024.”