Disney Studio is planning to expand the Planet of the Apes franchise and has roped in director Wes Ball, who is known for making films like the Maze Runner, to develop and helm a new film in the popular franchise, according to a report by The Hollywood Reporter.
If things go as planned, it will be the first film from Disney after its acquisition of 20th Century Fox as the Apes franchise was a property of the latter studio.
The most recent outing in the franchise, War of the Planet of the Apes, was a critical and commercial success and was the final film in the reboot series comprising of Rise of the Planet of the Apes (2011) and Dawn of the Planet of the Apes (2014).
The original film Planet of the Apes was released in 1968 and was directed by Franklin J. Schaffner and starred Charlton Heston. The film was a massive success and started the franchise which includes four more films, television series, animated series, a Tim Burton-remake and a reboot franchise.
Ball had directed the three films in the Maze Runner franchise and is producing the series The Night Market for Disney+. Earlier this year, he had announced his plans to adapt the comic book series Mouse Guard into a feature film.