Planet of the Apes fans make connections to the franchise in reaction to the news about more than 40 monkeys escaping a facility. On Wednesday, November 6, 43 monkeys that were used to develop vaccines escaped from a lab in Yemassee, South Carolina, and are still on the loose. Rise of the Planet of the Apes sees apes used for drug development break out of their facility. The film ends with a deadly global pandemic.
Since the news broke, movie fans are making connections on X between the incident and Planet of the Apes franchise. Some point out the news articles about police advising residents to secure their windows and doors is “literally the plot for Rise of the Planet of the Apes,” questioning what kind of science was being done. Many are sharing a GIF from the movie, showing the shocking “real life” resemblance to the movie’s plot.
@nuffsaidny points out the escape is “literally the plot” from the reboot franchise.
@Lee_Hampton compares the real-life situation to another movie, 12 Monkeys.
Following the US Presidential election, @teatimes75 jokes that scientists planned for this outcome.
Similarly, @lovechazelle also quips that the escaped monkeys are part of a revolution.
@shines_sun69413 questions what type of research was being done in the lab with the monkeys.
@avtomko makes a Simpsons joke, altering a line from Kent Brockman about our new ant overlords.
@Ebreo_Travels dramatically states “And so it begins” following their escape.
@DrAprylt says that Planet of the Apes will now begin as a documentary in 2024.
What This Means For Planet of the Apes
People Are Making More Connections
Science fiction can sometimes have a close tie with real-world events, given that they often take inspirations from real-life. When similarities strike, it makes sense for movie lovers to make connections. Some also mention that the event is more 12 Monkeys than Planet of the Apes, while others make links to post-apocalypse moves like 28 Days Later. The timing of the apes’ escape also earned a few political comments in light of the election result.
Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes official X account also reacts to the news, hinting at a resemblance to the latest Planet of the Apes movie. In the comment section, fans are making political connections, poking fun that the apes are “starting a revolution.” Some fans question the “type of research” that was being done and point out the apes’ escape sounds “deliberate.” Some are also worried about the Statue of Liberty, given the twist ending in the original movie.
Our Take on Planet of the Apes
It’s Timeless For A Reason
While the Planet of the Apes film series aren’t directly based on a single event, they touch on relatable themes like scientific experiments on animals, apocalypse, and the consequences of genetic manipulation, which are all real-life concerns. It’s not a coincidence that people are making real-life connections when similar events happen.
It also speaks about why Planet of the Apes is a successful franchise. Movies like the recent Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes are relatable and carry allegories about modern times. The plots in the reboot film series share real-world connections, and since science fiction also often plays out the worst scenarios for dramatic purposes, the movies also leave a strong aftertaste that gives fans something to think about.
Source: X (Various, see above)
Planet of the Apes
Planet of the Apes is a multimedia sci-fi franchise that began in 1963 with Pierre Boulle’s novel, which was later adapted into a film in 1968 starring Charlton Heston. The success of the movie led to four sequels, two TV shows, a remake from Tim Burton, and a reboot trilogy. The Planet of the Apes franchise has also seen success in video games and comic books.
- Created by
- Pierre Boulle
- Cast
- Charlton Heston , Roddy McDowall , Kim Hunter , Maurice Evans , James Whitmore , Linda Harrison , Mark Wahlberg , Helena Bonham Carter , Tim Roth , Michael Clarke Duncan , Paul Giamatti , James Franco , Andy Serkis , John Lithgow , Freida Pinto , Gary Oldman , Keri Russell , Kodi Smit-McPhee , Jason Clarke , Toby Kebbell , Judy Greer , Woody Harrelson , Amiah Miller , Kevin Durand , Dichen Lachman , William H. Macy , Owen Teague , Freya Allan
- Video Game(s)
- Planet of the Apes , Revenge of the Apes , Planet of the Apes: Last Frontier , Crisis on the Planet of the Apes