Cinema
How the ‘Planet of the Apes’ disaster condemned humanity to an era of slavery
The global pandemic in the franchise’s fiction changed the established order, something that will be reflected in ‘Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes’.
Sometimes good intentions can have terrible consequences. One of mankind’s most devastating diseases, Alzheimer’s, still has no cure. But in the science fiction universe of ‘The Planet of the Apes,’ experiments are about to bear fruit. Or so its protagonist thinks. In the first movie after the reboot, scientist Will Roadman (James Franco) develops the ALZ-112 vaccine, which he tests on the chimpanzee Bright Eyes. The experiment is a success, as they discover that his intelligence has improved, opening the door to a significant medical breakthrough. Unfortunately, she believes her son’s life is in danger and reacts violently, and the pharmaceutical company decides to execute her.
Driven by remorse, Will adopts the baby chimpanzee, little Caesar. Meanwhile, Gen Sys Laboratories suspends funding for the project, but the scientist continues his research and injects the formula into the body of his father, who is suffering from the disease. The results are surprising, but after several years he develops antibodies, and the effects are reversed. Tests with the improved version of the vaccine, ALZ-113, show that the apes become even more intelligent.
When Cure Is Disease: The Pandemic That Nearly Wiped Out Mankind
However, CEO Steven Jacobs’ corporate greed triggers the events that lead to disaster. Without Will’s approval, he tests the experimental drug on chimpanzees, despite the risk, since the ALZ-113 cure is a deadly virus. Enraged, one of the chimpanzees removes the mask of Robert Franklin, one of the contaminated scientists. When he goes to Will’s house to explain that the vaccine can be lethal, he accidentally coughs on Douglas Hunsiker, a neighbor who works as a pilot. This is the beginning of the end.
When the apes revolt and escape from their prison to freedom, Hunsiker travels to various parts of the world, unwittingly spreading the virus. As a result, the disease spreads beyond the borders of the United States and becomes a global pandemic. Five years later, 50% of humanity has already perished, several states have declared martial law, and society has collapsed. In this context, the apes under Caesar’s command evolve over generations to become humans, the intelligent and dominant species. The apes subjugate the humans, who have lost their intellectual capacity.
‘Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes’ is the next installment in the franchise. It takes place three centuries after the spread of the pandemic, so humans have been decimated and are a minority. The movie opens May 10 in theaters only.