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ThePlanet of the Apesfranchise will make its big screen comeback this year with a new installment set in the same universe, where Andy Serkis’ Caesar first led an uprising of the mutated and enhanced apes. While Serkis won’t be a part of the new installment, his performance as Caesar and its legacy will certainly cast a shadow on it.
Andy Serkis played the role of Caesar in three installments of thePlanet of the Apesfranchise. During an interview, Serkis revealed an unlikely inspiration behind his role. Serkis stated that he modeled his performance on a real-life leader, and his answer would leave many fans confused. Here is what Andy Serkis revealed about the inspirations behind hisPlanet of the Apesrole.
Andy Serkis Based HisPlanet of the ApesRole on Mahatma Gandhi
2011’sRise of the Planet of the Apesmarked the second reboot of thePlanet of the Apesfranchise, following the mixed reception of the 2001 reboot. The 2011 film introducesAndy Serkisas Caesar, a chimpanzee whose intelligence is increased after exposure to a virus. Serkis reprised the role in two further installments, which were a critical and commercial success.
Speaking with Bombay Times, ahead of the release of 2017’sWar for the Planet of the Apes, Serkis spoke about what inspired his performance as Caesar in the third installment. Serkis revealed that he modeled his performance on Indian freedom fighter Mahatma Gandhi.
“He was a strong example of the empathetic nature of a leader and the ability to not necessarily lead with force, but to lead by listening and empowering troops.”
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Serkis made the above statement (viaFirst Post), explaining that he was looking for a real-world leader, who represented the same values as Caesar. Considering Caesar takes on a larger leadership role in the third installment and is humanized to a greater degree, it makes sense that Serkis would want to base his performance on the values of Mahatma Gandhi.
Andy Serkis Also Took Inspiration From a Real Chimpanzee For HisPlanet of the ApesRole
During a separate interview, Serkis also spoke about some of the other inspirations behind his role as Caesar. While speaking withUSA Today, about Caesar’s three film journey and evolution, Serkis revealed that his initial performance was supposed to be more grounded and realistic. Therefore, he drew inspiration from Oliver, a real-life chimpanzee with a humanoid appearance.
“Oliver was bipedal, rarely walked on all fours. He would sit in chairs. His facial expressions were very human-like. People believed he was almost the missing link. I based Caesar on Oliver.”
Serkis made the above statement, explaining the inspiration behind his performance as Young Caesar in the first installment. Serkis added that he was grateful for the opportunity to play a character who grows and evolves across three films and found the entire experience fascinating.
“It’s fair to say that’s pretty method”: Andy Serkis’ Extreme Method Acting Technique for Lord of the Rings May be Why He’s So Good in Planet of the Apes
Thus, it is evident that Caesar’s evolution by the third film warranted a different inspiration and the values of Mahatma Gandhi were ideal for the chimpanzee’s revolutionary phase. The next installment in the franchise, titledKingdom of the Planet of the Apes, is set to release on Aug 05, 2025. It will focus on Noa, a young chimpanzee living 300 years after Caesar’s time.
Most of the films in thePlanet of the Apesfranchise are streaming on Max.
Pratik Handore
Content Writer
Articles Published :1771
With a keen interest in comic book movies and blockbuster franchises, Pratik usually covers news and updates on the DCU, MCU, Star Wars, and more.A die-hard fan of George Lucas and Steven Spielberg, Pratik spends most of his time exploring different storytelling mediums that invoke a sense of wonder and adventure. Other filmmakers whose works have deeply influenced him include Alfred Hitchcock, James Gunn, and Guillermo del Toro.
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Andy Serkis
