Skip to main content

Digital Trends may earn a commission when you buy through links on our site. Why trust us?

‘War for the Planet of the Apes’ trailer takes the battle to a new level

The stakes keep getting higher in the rebooted, wildly successful Planet of the Apes franchise, and the first trailer for War for the Planet of the Apes suggests that the precarious balance between humans and apes could finally be approaching the tipping point.

20th Century Fox released the trailer for the July 2017 film Friday, offering the first glimpse at the third installment of the modern series. This time around, Caesar and the apes face an even more dire threat in the form of a ruthless soldier played by Woody Harrelson, who marshals the remaining human military to exterminate the apes.

Recommended Videos

War for the Planet of the Apes is directed by Matt Reeves, who also directed 2014’s Dawn of the Planet of the Apes. The film’s official synopsis reads as follows:

In War for the Planet of the Apes, the third chapter of the critically acclaimed blockbuster franchise, Caesar and his apes are forced into a deadly conflict with an army of humans led by a ruthless Colonel. After the apes suffer unimaginable losses, Caesar wrestles with his darker instincts and begins his own mythic quest to avenge his kind. As the journey finally brings them face to face, Caesar and the Colonel are pitted against each other in an epic battle that will determine the fate of both their species and the future of the planet.

As the synopsis mentions, the first two films in the rebooted franchise generated considerable critical praise to go along with nearly $1.2 billion in worldwide ticket sales, making it one of the most successful franchise reboots in recent years.

Along with Andy Serkis returning to provide the performance-capture acting as Caesar, the film also stars Steve Zahn, Terry Notary, Gabriel Chavarria, Judy Greer, and Karin Konoval.

War for the Planet of the Apes hits theaters July 14, 2017.

Rick Marshall
Former Contributing Editor, Entertainment
A veteran journalist with more than two decades of experience covering local and national news, arts and entertainment, and…
7 best action movies of 2024, ranked
Anya Taylor-Joy as Furiosa, brandishing a boomstick outside of a pursuit car

Looking back at the past year in film, action remains a reliable genre both at the box office and on streaming. Action occupies six spots on the list of the 12 highest-grossing movies of 2024. From blockbusters and IP-driven properties to superhero stories and monster epics, action continues to be embraced by audiences globally.

You know it's been a competitive year in action when a superhero movie doesn't crack the list of the top seven action movies of 2024. What films did make the cut? Check out the full rankings below.
Need more recommendations? Then check out the best new movies to stream this week, the best action movies on Netflix, the best movies on Netflix, the best movies on Hulu, the best movies on Amazon Prime Video, the best movies on Max, and the best movies on Disney+.

Read more
Y2K trailer takes you for a wild ride on New Year’s Eve 1999
A girl stands in front of two boys in a living room.

To quote Charli XCX, "I just want to go back, back to 1999." The makers of the A24 sci-fi comedy Y2K are of a similar mind, as the film transports audiences back to New Year's 1999 for the party of the century.

In the latest trailer, Jaeden Martell and Julian Dennison star as Eli and Danny, two loser friends whose New Year's Eve plans consist of sitting at home and watching a movie. Fed up with their lack of social status, the boys crash their classmate's party in hopes of changing their reputation. For Eli, he views it as a chance to impress his crush, Laura (Rachel Zegler).

Read more
10 most iconic movie plot twists of all time, ranked
Darth Vader reaching out his hand to Luke Skywalker in Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back.

Editor's note: The following article contains spoilers for the movies mentioned.

Nothing spices up a movie quite like a great plot twist. Indeed, some of the best moments in cinematic history have been jaw-dropping revelations that shocked audiences and spawned endless debates. Whether it's subtle and creeping or shocking and wholly unexpected, these unforgettable twists aren't just gimmicks. Truly fantastic plot twists elevate the story, demanding audiences to reexamine what they've just seen and brace themselves for something totally different.

Read more