In 2024, Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes signaled a new era for the iconic Planet of the Apes franchise, yet there is one new character who harks back to the reboots’ best villain. The fourth installment in the Planet of the Apes reboot series, Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes centers on Noa, a young ape who sets out to save his people after they are kidnapped by a neighboring kingdom. Unlike the three movies that preceded it, Kingdom does not focus on Caesar, but instead, is set 300 years after his death.

Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes quickly establishes itself as different from its Planet of the Apes predecessors. Kingdom’s vast time jump plunges audiences into a completely new world of apes and humans, where apes are superior to humans but have not yet joined forces as a united community. Through Noa’s eyes, viewers see how Caesar’s beliefs in peace and independence for apes has morphed into something far more dangerous. Yet, even with all these changes, Kingdom still manages to include hints of the prior Planet of the Apes reboot movies.

Proximus Is The Perfect Replacement For Koba (If The Kingdom Villain Isn’t ᴅᴇᴀᴅ)

How Proximus & Koba Are Similar

One character in Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes who seemingly harks back to the earlier reboot movies is Proximus. At first glance, Proximus may seem like a stand in for Caesar. Not only has he taken on Caesar’s name (Proximus Caesar), but he also maintains control over a significant population of apes. However, in reality, Proximus is more like Koba than Caesar. Like Koba, Proximus rules with fear rather than kindness. Furthermore, he has a vendetta against humans, intending to use their inventions for his own purposes. Proximus shows what it would be like if Koba had ruled.

Because of this, Proximus is the perfect Koba replacement. Although the first three Planet of the Apes reboots introduced a number of different villain characters, Koba was the most compelling. Caesar managed to persuade Koba to join his side in Rise of the Planet of the Apes, earning his loyalty. Yet, Koba’s pride and penchant for violence eventually led him to betray Caesar. Proximus faced a ᴅᴇᴀᴅly fate at the end of Kingdom, but if he returns, he could follow a similar path as Koba; he could ally with Noa only to destroy him later on.

Why Killing Off Proximus Caesar For Good Would Be A Mistake

Noa May Need Proximus In The Future

Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes may have “killed” Proximus at the end of the movie, but his death shouldn’t be permanent. Aside from his connections to Koba, Proximus is a unique character. He may be cruel, but he is a persuasive leader and his intentions are somewhat fair. He wants to protect the apes. In this way, Proximus could play an important role in the next Planet of the Apes movie. Considering that the humans are trying to regroup, they may put up a fight against the apes, and the only character equipped to fight back is Proximus.

Based on his relationship with Mae, it is clear that Noa is more curious about humans than hostile. Unfortunately, this could end up being a detriment to him, as Mae seems motivated to get revenge against the apes. If Noa isn’t prepared for Mae’s betrayal, it could be catastrophic for him and his village. Therefore, Proximus’ return could give the apes a chance to defend themselves. Of course, Proximus’ beliefs would inevitably clash with Noa’s, but they would be forced to work together for the sake of the apes’ survival. This would create a captivating and complex story.

Proximus Caesar Is A Very Different Villain From Koba

Koba Failed, But Proximus Is A Sign Of The Future

Proximus is an ideal Koba replacement, not only because of their similarities, but also due to their differences. Proximus is clearly violent, but he isn’t nearly as jaded as Koba. As shown in Dawn of the Planet of the Apes, Koba does not crave power as much as he craves revenge. The opposite could be said for Proximus. More than anything, he wants control over the apes and humans, and his desire for more power is insatiable. Ultimately, Proximus’ ability to lead a large group of apes makes him more dangerous than Koba, even if he isn’t as cuttthroat.

Additionally, Proximus is a villain that has a future, something which Koba never had. Koba’s desire was to hurt the humans, and he succeeded. Caesar defeated him, but not before Koba caused irreparable damage to ape and human relations. On the other hand, Proximus built a kingdom and maintained control of it until Noa and Mae showed up. His plan is more far-reaching than Koba’s, and could pick back up if he ends up being alive. Based on what the original Planet of the Apes movies showed, Proximus’ kingdom is what Earth may look like in hundreds of years.

Kingdom Of The Planet Of The Apes’ Sequel May Need A Lot Of Returning Characters

Kingdom Of The Planet Of The Apes 2 Should Not Leave Its Old Characters Behind

If Proximus does return in the Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes sequel, that would mean that other characters would also likely return. Noa, Raka, and Mae are particularly important figures whose stories should continue in another movie. Ultimately, all of these character returns would lead to some inevitable and awesome moments in the sequel. For example, Noa beat Proximus in battle, so their reunion would be of the utmost importance in the new movie. On top of that, Mae’s attempt to thwart Proximus’ plan would give him a vendetta against her and humans at large.

In the same way that Kingdom should not let Proximus truly die, the sequel should not jump to a new set of characters. Kingdom set up a really compelling cast in Noa, Mae, and Proximus, and like the movies before it, Kingdom should carry on with these storylines. It will be interesting to see what the humans’ next move is, how Noa develops into a stronger leader, and how Proximus may get his revenge. All in all, Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes has created a vivid world that needs to be expanded even further.