Summary

• Proximus Caesar adopts Caesar's name, showing his lasting influence on ape society despite being dead for 300 years.
• Ape leaders like Proximus control their subjects by withholding information, warping Caesar's legacy for selfish gain.
• Noa represents the struggle to restore Caesar's original teachings amidst a society corrupted by Proximus Caesar's twisted interpretation.

While Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes will pick up the rebooted timeline that began with 2011's Rise of the Planet of the Apes and its two sequels. Each of those movies follows a different stage in the journey of the ape Caesar, who is largely responsible for the evolution and advancement of apes on Earth.

The latest chapter in the Apes saga will chronicle a young ape named Noa as he is introduced to an ape kingdom led by a tyrannical bonobo who has named himself Proximus Caesar. The villainous ape has managed to weaponize the power of electricity and surrounded himself with minions who obey his will, which includes hunting humans. One of the most important focuses of the movie will be how Caesar's legacy has been ed down from generation to generation. Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes and will center around two replacement characters who represent different interpretations of Caesar's teachings.

Proximus Caesar's Name Shows Caesar's Legacy After Dying In War

He adopted Caesar's name as it still carries immense power.

The fact that the new ape leader adopts Caesar's name for himself is an indication of just how important Caesar has become in ape society. 300 years have ed, so information about the individual who set apekind on their current path of evolution has likely ed from history to legend to myth. His name has lost none of its potency, however, as the new leader seems to have adopted it as a surname in an effort to reinforce his own authority.

The name and title of "Caesar" in Ancient Rome originated with the Roman dictator Julius Caesar; following his death it was adopted as a title by Roman emperors, and evolved into other for "ruler" over time, like the German kaiser and Russian tsar.

Much as it was for the Ancient Romans, "Caesar" seems to be more of a title than a name. In the time since Caesar's death at the conclusion of War for the Planet of the Apes, it's possible that the leader of each group adopted his name as recognition of their authority. That would explain why Proximus Caesar still carries that title centuries later; it has likely been ed down from one leader to the next. It's a direct indication of how important Caesar was to all apes following his death, not just the ones who knew and loved him.

The Apes Likely Don't Know Caesar's Full Story In Kingdom Of The Planet Of The Apes

Over time, Caesar's story and beliefs have likely been warped.

The main trailer that played during the Super Bowl revealed a line spoken by the main character, Noa, about how the elders "did not tell us everything about this world." It seems that most of the apes in the world depicted in Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes, and certainly the ones living in Proximus Caesar's kingdom, have had information hidden from them over the last 300 years. As the saying goes, knowledge is power, and by only telling their followers what they want them to know, ape leaders throughout history have been able to control their subjects better.

Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes will release in theaters on May 8th, 2024.

Proximus Caesar's name indicates exactly how that played out. He adopts the name of Caesar as an indication of his leadership, and it's possible that he even touts Caesar's teachings as the guiding principles of his kingdom. However, if he has created a society in which ape-on-ape violence is common and apes hunt humans, then he has truly warped every ideal that Caesar ever taught his followers. Caesar's legacy has been tainted by apes who would use his authority and influence for their own selfish purposes.

Proximus Caesar Changing Caesar's Legacy Makes Noa More Important

Noa could be the link to resurrecting Caesar's original intent.

The adaptation of Caesar's teachings for nefarious purposes could very well be what the main character Noa is fighting against. There has been no indication that he is a direct descendant of Caesar, but Noa is likely going to be a character who discovers what Caesar intended ape society to be, complete with its coexistence with humanity. That would certainly put him at odds with Proximus Caesar, who only wants his version of Caesar's teachings to be law.

Noa and Proximus Caesar represent an interesting dichotomy in relation to Caesar's legacy. They represent the two diverging paths that his belief system has taken over time: one that holds a pure interpretation of his ideals, and one that has departed from his original intentions completely. It's fairly similar to how human religion has evolved over millennia thanks to varying interpretations and different geographic locations. Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes will no doubt explore Caesar's lasting legacy, and it will start with Noa and Proximus Caesar.