Koba Nearly Returned In War For The Planet Of The Apes: Here’s How

Summary

• Director Matt Reeves considered bringing back Koba in War for the Planet of the Apes, hinting at his survival but ultimately decided against it.
• Koba’s story is further explored in the novel “Firestorm,” portraying him as a tragic figure shaped by traumatic experiences and driven by revenge.
• Despite not returning in the final film, Koba’s impact is still felt, as his actions in Dawn of the Planet of the Apes set the stage for the conflict.

Koba almost returned in a major role for War Of The Planet Of The Apes, leading many to wonder, “did Kove survive the fall in Dawn of the Planet of the Apes?” Koba, the menacing bonobo with a vendetta against humans, became a standout element of the rebooted Planet of the Apes series, which has brilliantly reimagined the struggle between humans and apes. First appearing as a secondary character in Rise of the Planet of the Apes, Koba evolved into a formidable antagonist in Dawn of the Planet of the Apes, challenging Caesar’s leadership and philosophy of coexistence with humans.

The Planet of the Apes prequel timeline, centered around Andy Serkis’ compelling performance as Caesar, explores themes of leadership, morality, and survival, setting a darker, more emotional tone. Koba’s dramatic fall at the climax of Dawn left audiences questioning his fate—a question that tantalized fans as War for the Planet of the Apes approached. Koba’s potential reappearance in War for the Planet of the Apes hinted at exploring unresolved tensions and the profound consequences of Koba’s actions on both the ape community and the overarching narrative.

Director Matt Reeves Left The Door Open For Koba To Return

The Bonobo Can Be Heard Breathing Under The Rubble In Dawn Of The Planet Of The Apes

War For The Planet Of The Apes is the third and final entry in the Caesar trilogy, where he seeks out a murderous Colonel (Woody Harrelson) after his family is killed. It deals with the evolution of the virus that wiped out most of mankind, which is causing the human survivors to regress and lose the ability to speak. The previous movie, Dawn Of The Planet Of The Apes, saw an uprising by Caesar’s former friend and commander Koba.

Koba received vicious treatment from mankind during his captivity and fostered a bitter hatred for them. A turning point in Dawn Of The Planet Of The Apes finds Koba turning on Caesar because of his kindness to humans, so he leads an uprising that sparks a war between apes and mankind. Koba is eventually killed by Caesar in the finale, but in the end credits, rubble and breathing are heard, suggesting he survived his fall. Director Matt Reeves felt Koba was such a compelling villain that he left the door open for the character’s return.

One of Reeves’ early concepts for
War For The Planet Of The Apes
involved an opening scene where humans are bombing a colony of apes, with the presumed deceased Koba being a survivor.

Reeves later explained to the Q&A With Jeff Goldsmith podcast about how Koba would have played into War For The Planet Of The Apes had he returned. One of Reeves’ early concepts for War For The Planet Of The Apes involved an opening scene where humans are bombing a colony of apes, with the presumed deceased Koba being a survivor. Despite his hatred for mankind, the bonobo would have been seen bowing to human forces and becoming a collaborator in revenge against Caesar.

Despite the director’s love of the character, he realized the idea of Koba somehow surviving his fiery demise in Dawn was “ridiculous,” though he recycled the collaboration idea for “donkey” Red, who works with the human forces. Koba still makes two brief appearances in Caesar’s dreams in War For The Planet Of The Apes, as he’s haunted by Koba’s actions and death.

While Koba was a great, complex villain, the prequel trilogy never makes humans the center of the story as it was too much of a stretch to suggest he survived his fall in War For The Planet Of The Apes. However, his actions from Dawn are still very much felt in the final chapter, as it was his plan that set the apocalyptic conflict in motion.

Koba’s Story Continues In A Novel

Firestorm Depicts Him Not As A Villain But A Tragic Figure Shaped By His Past

The Planet of the Apes series has managed to expand its narrative beyond the big screen through various media, including novels. One such novel, Firestorm, which serves as a bridge between Rise of the Planet of the Apes and Dawn of the Planet of the Apes, also sheds light on the enduring influence of Koba, the scarred bonobo with a deeply rooted grudge against humans. Within the novel, Koba’s character is fleshed out, offering insights into his motivations and the complexity of his thoughts that the films only begin to explore.

The novel enriches his narrative, showing him not just as a villain but as a tragic figure shaped by his past and driven by a fierce desire to protect his kind.

Koba is depicted not just as a secondary antagonist but as a being shaped by traumatic experiences at the hands of humans, which have imbued him with a profound hatred and a relentless drive for revenge. Koba’s early days in freedom are marred by tragedy when a few apes fall victim to hunters. Witnessing Caesar close the eyes of a fallen ape triggers a painful flashback of his mother’s death at the hands of humans, deepening Koba’s animosity towards humans. This moment is pivotal, as it shapes his perception of humans and strengthens his resolve to defend his fellow apes.

Through these detailed explorations in Firestorm, readers gain a deeper understanding of Koba’s transformation. The novel enriches his narrative, showing him not just as a villain but as a tragic figure shaped by his past and driven by a fierce desire to protect his kind. It ultimately highlights the complex dynamics within the ape community and the profound effects of freedom and trauma on his character. While Koba doesn’t properly return in War for the Planet of the Apes, his story has been greatly expanded in other media like Firestorm.