Peter Macon, who plays Raka in Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes, actively promoted the film at San Diego Comic-Con (SDCC) this past weekend. He enthusiastically discussed his approach to portraying an ape character, highlighting the extensive preparation involved. To develop the character’s physicality and mannerisms, he trained in clown work, dance, physical movement, and martial arts.
Meanwhile, 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. However, the rise of a tyrannical ape leader 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 showcased the amazing Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes movie through an electrifying talent panel, artist signings, and a Planet of the Apes Immersive Fan Experience. As a final note, the summer epic, Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes, is out now on digital and streaming on Hulu on August 2!
Peter Macon on embodying his ape character and the physicality of the role:
Macon also highlighted the importance of character study and observing orangutans to ensure a believable performance. He expressed his satisfaction with the audience’s positive response to his character and the relief his character brings to the film’s intense moments.
Nick, Temple of Geek: I would like to really know, how you kind of dove into this role and, and created this especially, being kind of in, in an ape world? What was that like fo you?
Peter Macon: Listen, like the audition, sort of set the precedent. And it was, it was like maybe two, or three pages, very limited amounts of information. And I had to create, I had to craft or imagine. A lot of this imagination work. But I had to imagine what not only physically, like, how do I transform this face? And how do I speak these words? Like, what is a talking Orangatang? What is that? You know what I mean? And, like the physicality. And how they move their head. It was a lot of fun. I took a whole weekend. And just like I told my wife, I’m just like, I really, really, really want to do this because it calls upon, like, all of my clown training and like my dance training and physical training and martial arts and all that stuff, and just and also character study, so like it was a, it was a big, this big shoes to fill to do. But like the, the challenge of it and being specific. And I mean, I’ve studied a lot of orangutans and, but yeah it was that it was just like, how do I make this land and make this believable? And that was the assignment. And, you know, I watch this. I’ve seen it about 12, 15 times, and I’m still like, “Did you get it right? I don’t know.”
Nick, Temple of Geek: I still think you in the heart of that movie. Like, you brought that, that soul to it?
Peter Macon: He definitely has his own notes and his own tone that he brings to the film. And I think audiences are, relieved. I feel like when he comes up, they’re like, “I can’t take any more stress, you know?” The connective tissue of the last three film films exists within him. So I’m happy that audiences really respond to that. To the film in general, but like to Raka, sort of, his place in it all, like his note that plays in the symphony that is the movie.
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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