The movie titled “Beneath the Planet of the Apes” followed closely after the original film’s release, but Charlton Heston hesitated to return for the sequel. Following the massive success of 1968’s “Planet of the Apes”, it was only expected that 20th Century-Fox would want to capitalize on the sci-fi franchise’s box office allure. Consequently, “Beneath the Planet of the Apes” was swiftly developed and hit cinemas in 1970. However, it quickly became evident that this sequel was missing a key element compared to its predecessor.
Although Beneath the Planet of the Apes managed to generate good earnings at the box office, it wasn’t favorably reviewed by critics and currently holds a 37% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. The movie was frequently criticized for its peculiar and gloomy atmosphere, as it was significantly darker than its predecessor. However, the film’s main flaw seemed to lie in the limited screen time of star Charlton Heston. In fact, the Academy Award winner nearly opted out of the sequel entirely, but eventually agreed to a small cameo appearance that framed the narrative.
Why Charlton Heston Is Barely In Beneath The Planet Of The Apes
The Legendary Oscar-Winning Actor Didn’t Do Sequels
During the initial phase of his acting career, Charlton Heston became known for leading roles in several grandiose Hollywood productions, including biblical tales such as “The Ten Commandments” and “Ben Hur”, along with historical spectacles like “El Cid”. Notably, his part in “Planet of the Apes” marked his debut in science fiction, although it was a genre not commonly associated with him. Remarkably, this 1968 film stood as an epic on its own, comparable to Heston’s other prominent works in grandeur. However, unlike many of his previous projects, “Planet of the Apes” was a sequel, which at that time in cinematic history were often met with skepticism and unfavorable opinions.
Initially, much like other prominent actors of that era, Heston harbored a rather skeptical attitude towards sequels, considering them more about seizing opportunities than artistic expression. Consequently, it was thought unlikely that he’d repeat his performance as Taylor in “Beneath the Planet of the Apes“. In the book “Planet of the Apes Revisited“, authors Edward Gross, Joe Russo, and Larry Landsman detailed that Heston required persuasion to reprise the role. However, it was only after ensuring that Taylor would meet his end at some point in the narrative that he agreed to do so.
The actor’s reluctance to return wasn’t probably because of the script, as Heston’s specific story requirements significantly shaped how the narrative unfolds. Although it’s uncertain where the movie was in its development when Heston signed on, it seems unlikely that the plot had been fully set at that point. One possible explanation for the inconsistency in the Beneath the Planet of the Apes script could be the need to accommodate Heston’s request for Taylor’s character to meet his demise.
How A Bigger Role For Charlton Heston Would Have Changed The Original Franchise
The Planet Of The Apes Probably Wouldn’t Have Been Destroyed
One of the most intricate storytelling dilemmas in the movie “Beneath the Planet of the Apes” lies in its ending, where the planet (Earth in the future) is completely annihilated at the finale. The film concludes with Taylor setting off the doomsday bomb, effectively destroying the entire planet, a wish fulfilled by Charlton Heston’s character, and seemingly marking the end of the series. Nevertheless, a year later, “Escape from the Planet of the Apes” was released, deftly altering the timeline by depicting several ape characters managing to escape before the planet was obliterated.
If Charlton Heston had shown greater eagerness to reprise his role as Taylor in Beneath the Planet of the Apes, it’s likely that the storyline would have unfolded differently. For one, the first sequel might not have been as disconnected and gloomy, and perhaps the planet wouldn’t have met its destruction. This could have paved the way for subsequent films set during ape rule, avoiding the need for a complex time-travel storyline based in our present day.
The original Planet of the Apes series includes:
| Movie | Release Year | Rotten Tomatoes Score |
|---|---|---|
| Planet of the Apes | 1968 | 86% |
| Beneath the Planet of the Apes | 1970 | 37% |
| Escape from the Planet of the Apes | 1971 | 75% |
| Conquest of the Planet of the Apes | 1972 | 52% |
| Battle for the Planet of the Apes | 1973 | 33% |
The storyline in the “Planet of the Apes” movies is intricate and has undergone several modifications. If “Beneath the Planet of the Apes” had been a more straightforward continuation, the narrative would have been less confusing. Similarly, Charlton Heston’s choices regarding “Beneath the Planet of the Apes” significantly impacted the future direction of this popular science fiction series.
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2025-05-18 16:30