Freya Allan, known for her role in The Witcher, recently shared her excitement about joining the iconic Planet of the Apes franchise at San Diego Comic-Con (SDCC). She expressed honor in bringing a human perspective to the story. She also discussed playing a complex character who navigates a world dominated by apes while grappling with hidden information.
Director Wes Ball revitalizes the epic franchise with this action-adventure spectacle. Generations after Caesar’s reign, apes have established a harmonious society while humans remain in the shadows. A tyrannical ape leader’s rise to power forces a young ape on a perilous journey. Challenging his beliefs and forging decisions that will determine the fate of both species. Allan, along with several cast and crew members, attended San Diego Comic-Con. The event featured a Planet of the Apes Immersive Fan Experience, an electrifying talent panel, and artist signings to showcase the amazing Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes movie. The summer epic, Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes, is out now on digital and streaming on Hulu on August 2!
Freya Allan on Acting in an Ape World
Allan described the unique challenge of acting primarily with apes. The filming process required her to perform scenes both with and without the ape actors. Adapting to their interactions and reacting to their absence. This added a layer of complexity to her performance, demanding adaptability and a strong sense of imagination.
Nick, Temple of Geek: You are coming off of, things like The Witcher, but coming into this big universe of Planet of the Apes, what was it like for you to dive into this whole franchise?
Freya Allan: I mean, it was so exciting when I found out I got the role and I had to fly over to Australia, I was just so excited to start, you know, and I just, I still can’t believe, honestly, when I really think about it, that I’m, I’m a part of this franchise.
Nick, Temple of Geek: What was it like for you to be, like, one of the only humans in the film itself, acting with apes?
Freya Allan: It felt like an honor that that was that I was getting to bring that part of the story to life. And, I think she’s such an interesting character and getting to play all those layers and and conflicts and lies or not lies, but, you know, hiding so much information. I don’t know, I think she was, she’s a very interesting part of the story. And is a mystery. So, I feel very lucky that I’ve been able to play her.
Nick, Temple of Geek: What was it like filming something like this with such so much visual effects? What was that experience for you?
Freya Allan: Crazy. Because I had to do all my scenes with them and then without them. It’s just hard doing a scene, not looking at anyone’s face firstly. But then also sometimes they interact with you and, and so if they’re interacting with you and then you have to do it without someone, you’re having to like make reaction physical reactions over nothing. I didn’t know that that was going to be the case before I joined. Obviously, it wouldn’t have made a difference to be joining. But I remember finding that out and I was like, “Sorry, I have to do all my scenes on my own?” I couldn’t believe it. But yeah, I lucked out.
Nick Temple of Geek: That’s awesome. Is there anything you are currently working on?
Freya Allan: The Witcher, Season 4
Nick, Temple of Geek: What are you excited about for that? Everything. Honestly, my series storyline is just like, for me, it’s the best, storyline she’s had so far. We just get to see a completely different side of her. She’s badass.
Beyond her role in Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes, Allan shared her enthusiasm for the upcoming season of The Witcher. She promised that viewers will see a different side of her character and can look forward to exciting new storylines. With her talent and versatility, Freya Allan is sure to make a lasting impact on both the Planet of the Apes franchise and The Witcher universe.
20th Century Studios’ ‘Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes’ Dominates SDCC
20th Century Studios’ summer blockbuster, “Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes,” didn’t just attend San Diego Comic-Con International—it conquered it. Providing fans with a multi-faceted celebration of this cinematic masterpiece.
The excitement reached a crescendo on Thursday with the electrifying “Unveiling the VFX magic: 20th Century Studios’ Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes” panel. Which ignited the room with thunderous applause. The film’s stars and VFX talent captivated the 1,000-person audience with behind-the-scenes content that unveiled the secrets behind the movie’s magic. Hosted by Entertainment Weekly’s Gerrad Hall and featuring stunning previs/postvis videos. Fans witnessed the spectacular creation of the fantastical apes and battles.
Planet of the Apes Fan Experience at SDCC
The immersive “Enter the Forbidden Zone! The Planet of the Apes Experience” transported over 5,255 fans over four days into the rich history of this iconic franchise. Guests marveled at the costumes, comics, props, and photography celebrating the 10 films in the Planet of the Apes legacy.
Furthermore, fans were invited to dive deeper into the “Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes” through immersive stations. They learned to move like an ape with the film’s movement coordinator, Alain Gauthier. They explored the role of birds of prey in the movie alongside a live Harris hawk named Lola.
Additionally, fans were treated to two opportunities to meet SteelBook artist Dylan Cole, who enthusiastically signed exclusive artwork from the “Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes” 4K UHD Blu-ray. Dylan’s presence drew cheers at both the Hulu and Disney+ booth and the Planet of the Apes Fan Experience. There he signed hundreds of special art posters for eager fans.
Clearly, “Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes” is more than just a film. It’s a visual masterpiece that has garnered critical acclaim and captivated audiences worldwide. The film is currently available on Digital retailers (Prime Video, AppleTV, and Fandango at Home). Additionally, it will be available for streaming on Hulu on August 2nd. If you prefer physical media it will be on 4K UHD Blu-Ray and DVD on August 27th.
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