The Planet of the Apes franchise has already attracted some of Hollywood’s finest, with stars like Woody Harrelson, Gary Oldman, and Andy Serkis delivering unforgettable performances. But who could join the simian ranks next? According to director Wes Ball, he has one dream casting in mind for a future film: Tom Hanks as an orangutan.

When I asked him about casting big-name actors in the Apes universe, Ball playfully responded, “Tom Hanks as an orangutan. I don’t know, there are so many great actors. The question is though, like, there are certain actors that do not want to do this—they look ridiculous, you know what I mean? And so that limits the pool right there. So, I don’t know, we’d have to think about that one.”

Hanks as a wise, benevolent orangutan, perhaps leading a new generation of apes? Honestly, where do we sign up for this?

Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes: A New Dawn for the Franchise

Before we start campaigning for Hanks’ transformation into an ape, let’s talk about the film that started this conversation: Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes. Directed by Wes Ball, the film is set years after the reign of Caesar and follows a new chapter in the ever-evolving ape society.

The cast includes Owen Teague as the film’s lead ape, Freya Allan as a key human character, and the legendary William H. Macy. With breathtaking visuals and a story exploring power struggles within ape civilization, this installment aims to carry on the legacy of the franchise in epic fashion.

Freya Allan Wants Henry Cavill as a Silverback Gorilla

Interestingly, Ball wasn’t the only one to toss out some wild Apes casting ideas. In a separate interview with The Movie Dweeb, Freya Allan shared her own dream casting for a sequel: her The Witcher co-star, Henry Cavill as a silverback gorilla.

Given Cavill’s action-star physique and commanding screen presence, the idea makes a lot of sense. Whether he’d be a noble leader or a fierce warrior among the apes remains to be seen, but one thing is clear—seeing Superman go full primate would be cinema gold.

With the Planet of the Apes franchise continuing to evolve, the possibilities for new actors joining the series are endless. Whether it’s Tom Hanks as a wise orangutan or Henry Cavill as a mighty silverback, one thing’s for sure: the future of Apes looks wildly entertaining.