The Planet of the Apes Franchise: Premature Death in the 1970s?

From the groundbreaking Planet of the Apes, which brought a French sci-fi novel to the big screen, to the numerous sequels that followed, this franchise managed to capture imaginations across the globe. However, the true end of this iconic series nearly came far sooner than anticipated. In this article, we delve into the hypothetical question of what might have happened if they made Planet of the Apes 6 in 1974 and explore the timeline of the franchise during the 1970s.

The Birth of a Franchise

Unlike the other iconic science fiction franchises, Planet of the Apes was never a planned series. It began as an adaptation of a French novel and gained traction that led to its first sequel. Surprisingly, the lead actor, Charlton Heston, did not intend to take part in the next installment, instead choosing to donate his salary to charity. This led to the creative reinvention of Beneath the Planet of the Apes, where Heston appeared briefly at the end to instigate the final battle between humans and apes.

Challenges of the 1970s

Despite the success of the franchise, the 1970s saw a gradual decline in budget and profit. Escape from the Planet of the Apes marked a cautious return to the story, with a modified plot that included a group of apes traveling back in time. Although the movie is often seen as mediocre, it managed to regroup the theme and build a more dynamic narrative. Each subsequent movie seemed to follow the same path - a last flick before the franchise's closure.

Rather than concluding the series, 20th Century Fox opted to tie up loose ends by creating a more intricate storyline, particularly around the Caesar character reprised by Roddy McDowall. This approach ensured that the franchise had a satisfying end with Battle for the Planet of the Apes, released in 1973, which took on more of a heroic tone, leaving the audience with a bittersweet ending.

Alternate Concepts and Reboots

Even with such a captivating conclusion, the potential for further sequels was not entirely exhausted. In the 1990s, Oliver Stone was paid a record $1 million to develop a new film which would become Return of the Apes. The idea behind this film was profoundly unique, involving cryogenically frozen Vedic apes holding secrets inscribed in the Bible. Stone proposed that these apes possessed prophecies of historical events and had deciphered them, creating a profound philosophical treatise on time and destiny. Sadly, this concept was never brought to the screen.

The 90s also saw a script written by Terry Hayes, which featured proteins that caused abnormal rapid aging. A time-traveling mission to find a cure set humans against apes, providing a fresh twist. However, all attempts to resurrect the franchise suffered the same fate as the idea was too ambitious for the then-disinterested public.

Conclusion: The Unfortunate End?

The question remains: What if the franchise had been allowed to continue into the 1970s with a sixth film? Given the challenges of the era, the budget and creative direction would have undoubtedly been strained, making it difficult to carry a plot over multiple movies. The original writers, facing immense pressure to generate new stories, would have been hard-pressed to stretch the concept any further. The last three films with Roddy McDowall as Caesar serve as a testament to the franchise's final success before this indecision likely brought it to a premature end.

Overall, the demise of the Planet of the Apes franchise in the 1970s was a combination of financial constraints, creative exhaustion, and a changing audience. The last films completed the circle, leaving a lasting impact on cinema that continues to inspire viewers decades later.

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