Since 1968, the Planet of the Apes franchise has released ten movies which can be separated into the original film series and the modern film series, yet one theory claims that (almost) all the movies actually take place in the same timeline. Based on a French novel, the Planet of the Apes movies showcase a world where intelligent apes have replaced humans as the apex species. In the initial movies, audiences watched as humans landed on the Planet of the Apes and learned to love and hate the apes. More recently, viewers learned how this ape takeover really happened.

At first glance, it seems like the two halves of the Planet of the Apes franchise are unconnected. The first five movies are futuristic and center on George Taylor and the apes, Zira and Cornelius. Meanwhile, the modern films take place in the current day and follow Caesar and his ape rebellion. However, many Planet of the Apes lovers have long believed that the two sets of films are actually taking place in the same timeline. That means that the Planet of the Apes timelines will eventually meet in the middle, creating a full circle moment for the franchise.

The Current Planet Of The Apes Movies Are Building Up Toward The Original 1968 Film

How Close The Franchise Is To Completing The Timeline

According to the above theory, the modern Planet of the Apes movies are eventually going to coincide with the original movies. 1968’s Planet of the Apes is set in the year 3978, while Rise of the Planet of the Apes is set in 2016. Ultimately, this means that the movies between Rise and the original Planet of the Apes would take place over the course of 1962 years. Already, this is proving to be true as the most recent Planet of the Apes release, Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes, takes place approximately in the year 2328.

So far, the modern Planet of the Apes movies have remained (mostly) within the canon set by the original movies, which gives this theory validation. With even more Planet of the Apes films on the horizon, the franchise could certainly keep leaping through time until it reaches 3978. Unfortunately, we are still quite far from this joining of the two film series. Based on Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes’ timeline and story, the apes are still a long way off from being a strong community of fully intelligent beings like we see in the 1968 movie.

The Circumstances Of How Apes Took Over Was Slowly Forgotten Over Time

Kingdom Of The Planet Of The Apes Proves This Theory

One obstacle that hurts the same timeline theory is that the apes’ overthrow happens differently in the original movies versus the modern movies. In the 1968 version, the apes take over Earth after a nuclear disaster struck and killed humankind. In turn, apes were able to evolve into more intelligent beings and take humans’ place. However, this story is much different in Rise of the Planet of the Apes, which shows a virus killing humans and turning them primal while making apes intelligent. If the stories are different, then how can they exist in the same timeline?

As it turns out, the timeline theory actually accounts for this discrepancy in storytelling. Considering how much time has pᴀssed between Rise of the Planet of the Apes and 1968’s Planet of the Apes, many believe that the apes in 3978 simply forgot how they took over. Over the course of centuries, the exact details of the story were forgotten, and thus changed. In fact, Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes has already proved this possibility by showing how the apes forgot about Caesar and his beliefs. In this way, the franchise could be priming us for this mix-up.

The Original Planet Of The Apes Movie Will Happen, And Then Cornelius Will Change The Past

How Cornelius’ Change Affects The OG Planet Of The Apes

Once the modern movies overlap with the original fims, 1971’s Escape from the Planet of the Apes will occur. In this movie, Cornelius and Zira go back in time to 1973, right after the nuclear disaster killed the humans. Cornelius changes history so that apes and humans are able to live in peace. However, in this alternate timeline, the humans eventually turn on the intelligent apes, leading Cornelius and Zira’s son, Caesar, to lead a rebellion against the humans. The end of the original franchise sees the humans and apes finally co-existing in peace after much warfare.

Because Cornelius and Zira create an alternate timeline, this implies that the first two movies in the Planet of the Apes franchise didn’t actually happen. Seen through another lens, the movies took place, but are no longer integral to the story by the time Escape from the Planet of the Apes and its successors roll around. Truthfully, this makes the same timeline theory a bit more complicated, as audiences have to figure out which timeline the modern movies are on. However, the franchise could definitely make sense of this in future movies.

By Going Back To 1973, Cornelius Changes How The Planet Of The Apes Comes To Be

Why The Timeline Theory Makes Planet Of The Apes Better

One way that Planet of the Apes can fit its timelines together is by showing that Cornelius’ alternate timeline led to Rise of the Planet of the Apes. By reframing the nuclear disaster and its effects on humans/apes, Cornelius allows the two groups to intermingle in a new way, supposedly in peace. However, Rise of the Planet of the Apes shows how this “peace” actually turns into a different kind of slavery. In this way, the discrepancy between how the apes took over could be due to Cornelius’ time travel. By reworking the nuclear disaster, he prompts Caesar’s uprising.

In the end, the timeline theory isn’t totally perfect, but it adds so much depth to the Planet of the Apes franchise. If the two film series were not connected, the modern Planet of the Apes movies would still be good, but they would lack a sense of cohesion with the originals. Some audiences may wonder why Planet of the Apes is rewriting its history. However, if everything has a reason and an explanation via the timeline theory, then Planet of the Apes can proudly boast an extraordinary cinematic feat.