Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes jumped forward in time to put the Planet of the Apes platform on a new trajectory after the epic Caesar trilogy of the 2010s, but a surprise scene that included Caesar might have been one of the most important in the entire movie. Set roughly 300 years after the events of War for the Planet of the Apes in the overarching Planet of the Apes timeline, Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes explores how ape society has evolved since Caesar’s death, and how different sects of apes have carried on his creed.

With Caesar (Andy Serkis) long-since ᴅᴇᴀᴅ at the beginning of Kingdom, it seemed unlikely that he would make a true appearance in the movie. The Planet of the Apes franchise has brought back a ᴅᴇᴀᴅ character before though, with Koba returning to Caesar in a freezing fever dream. While there was speculation Caesar could return in a similar form, the reality was far more impactful. Before jumping ahead 300 years, Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes brought the story all the way back to Caesar’s ending.

Kingdom Of The Planet Of The Apes Opened With Caesar’s Funeral

The Emotional Scene Puts An Exclamation Point On Caesar’s Story

War for the Planet of the Apes saw Caesar lead his apes to freedom before succumbing to the wounds he sustained while attempting to destroy the base of the Alpha Omega army battalion. He died peacefully, fading away in the arms of his friend Maurice while watching his son Cornelius play, finally free from the threat of humanity. It was a simple yet beautiful conclusion to Caesar’s story, and it left the door open for future stories following the surviving apes. However, Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes opened with a scene that theoretically took place later that night.

The scene opens with Maurice positioning Caesar’s body atop a funeral pyre, surrounded by the surviving apes from Caesar’s large “family”. A number of apes bring small flowers to adorn Caesar’s body, and when they’re finished the pyre is set ablaze. As the apes look on, Maurice raises his arms to give the “Apes together strong” symbol of two side-by-side fists, which immediately spreads throughout the crowd as Cornelius looks up and watches. It’s a powerful reminder of how profound an impact Caesar had on apekind, and a fitting tribute to the character that breathed new life into the franchise.

Caesar’s Funeral Was The Perfect Way To Bridge Kingdom And The Previous Trilogy

It Was The Ideal Metaphorical Pᴀssing Of The Torch

The funeral scene also acted as the perfect setup for Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes, as it served as a reminder of what Caesar’s original intent was: for all apes to unify in peace. That reminder of his intentions is the perfect segue into the events of Kingdom, which sees a new generation of apes that have long-since forgotten Caesar’s teachings. The main character, Noa (Owen Teague), spends the first movie suffering from the consequences of apes warping Caesar’s words and taking his name to justify their own control over apes and humans alike.

While the original reboot trilogy focused on Caesar and his journey to free apes from captivity and lead them to a better future, it’s clear that the new set of movies starring Noa will focus on Caesar’s legacy, in its many forms. While Caesar certainly preached peace between apes, he also sought to keep peace with humans, believing that apes could and should be better than the species that tortured and enslaved them. That notion appears about to be tested, as the ending of Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes teases; Caesar’s funeral is a necessary reminder of the original, peaceful endgame.