'Kindly Respect My Space Unbathed-But-Misunderstood Human!' There's An APES Relaunch Script Out There...

Merrick here...
Devin over at CHUD has posted an interesting piece about a script that's been floating around Fox. It's called GENESIS: APES (there's a title that's gotta go ).

In this version Caesar is the result of a genetic scientist fooling around with the nature of things. When the baby monkey exhibits intelligence and the ability to talk, he takes the cuddly thing home to his wife, who is unable to bear children. Things go surprisingly well for a number of years until Caesar grows up and sees mommy getting attacked. The dutiful son steps in and accidentally kills the attacker. Here's where it takes off. In a scene paralleling Charlton Heston in the cage in the original Planet of the Apes, Caesar ends up in custody at an Ape Conservatory where he and the other apes are abused mercilessly. Caesar finds himself a primate without a world - he's as smart as humans but will never be one of them (and is in fact tortured by them) and he's initially rejected by his monkey brethren. You're on Caesar's side, understanding where this poor outcast is coming from. But then the script gets really ballsy and, just like in Conquest, Caesar begins a campaign to unite the apes and overthrow human society. And his plan isn't a Martin Luther King Jr series of marches, speeches and sit ins - Caesar and his apes take to the streets violently.

...says THIS ARTICLE at CHUD. So, essentially this would be a remake of CONQUEST OF THE PLANET OF THE APES - but with a few critical distinctions. Devin has some valid & perceptive points about this project, which he feels may never actually go before cameras. Jump over to his article & check it out. Personally, I love APES movies (although BATTLE FOR was kind of anemic...) and despised the Burton version in nearly every regard. I'm not convinced this is a franchise that needs to be re-imagined/rebooted at all, ever. Especially since The Powers That Be at Fox would be roundly incapable of understanding why the APES concept works to begin with, and are scared-as-hell to approach anything edgy these days, especially a concept which hinges on social commentary. BTW: the headline is my goofing on the notion of a APES movie contaminated by Political Correctness - it's not a life from the new script or anything. Just to be clear.
Here's a trailer for the original CONQUEST...