Did you know the first screenplay for 1968’s Planet of the Apes was written by Rod Serling? BOOM! Studios and 20th Century Fox have created Planet of the Apes: Visionaries that adapts that screenplay in the new original graphic novel.
The first Planet of The Apes (1968) film is an adaptation of the French novel La Planète des singes. On the road to making the landmark science-fiction classic, 20th Century Fox commissioned Rod Serling to adapt the source material. Serling’s first draft, which was drastically revised before filming, is a radically different vision of the franchise than the one the world has come to know and love.
This is the world you know from the acclaimed Planet of the Apes film series, but with key differences – Taylor is Thomas, and Ape City isn’t a crude, primitive grouping of huts; instead, it’s a bustling and urbane metropolis filled with cars and skyscrapers and a vibrant Ape culture. In a world where Apes wear modern clothes, drive modern cars and rule the late night talk show scene, the arrival of one man will forever change how Apes – and Humans – view themselves.
“Planet Of The Apes meant as much to me growing up as baseball means to most kids. No lie,” said Dana Gould. “That I’m now able to be involved with this universe in a creative capacity, much less adapting the original Rod Serling script… I mean, Rod Serling! I am incredibly grateful to BOOM! Studios for this once in a lifetime opportunity.”
Once again BOOM! Studios is taking the OGN approach to comics that give readers the entire story instead of breaking it down into a mini-series. This is definitely a good thing for the industry and a good thing for comic readers new and old.
Planet of the Apes: Visionaries is set to arrive in stores in August 2018.
