Planet of the Apes

Planet of the Apes is a series of films, television series, comic books, and other media based on a novel by Pierre Boulle involving a society where primitive humans are dominated by anthropomorphic apes.

Fast Facts

1. Novel Published: 1963
2. Novel Original Title: La planete des singes
3. Original Film Released: 1968
4. 4 Sequels:
   1. Beneath the Planet of the Apes (1970)
   2. Escape from the Planet of the Apes (1971)
   3. Conquest of the Planet of the Apes (1972)
   4. Battle for the Planet of the Apes (1973)
5. Two TV Series:
   1. Planet of the Apes (series) (1974)
   2. Return to the Planet of the Apes (1975)
6. 7 Comic Book Adaptations
   1. Gold Key Comics (1970)
   2. Marvel Comics (1974) - (1977)
   3. Power Records
   4. Adventure Comics
   5. Brown-Watson Books
   6. Dark Horse Comics
   7. Mr. Comics
7. Latest Film Adaptation: (2001)

Themes and Motifs

In all its forms and adaptations, Planet of the Apes explores the human condition by reflecting it through the point of view of our closest relatives, the great apes. This kind of ironic storytelling was a staple of The Twilight Zone creator Rod Serling, who helped write the screenplay for the first film.

The universe of Planet of the Apes takes place within a closed loop of space and time. Astronauts travel into the future, where human civilization has been shattered and sentient, talking apes have evolved. Two of these apes later travel back in time using the astronaut's recovered spaceship, where their child helps lead an ape revolution that leads to the collapse of civilization... and the ascension of the world of the future.

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