In a recent interview with Collider, director Wes Ball shed light on the significant role played by actor Andy Serkis in the upcoming film Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes. Although Serkis won't be portraying a character in the film, his influence on the project has been immense. Ball revealed that he sought Serkis' advice during the development phase, discussing the script, showing him concept art, and ensuring that the ideas aligned with the vision they had for the movie.
Having previously worked with Serkis, Ball was familiar with his talent and dedication. In fact, Matt Reeves, the director of the previous two films in the franchise, had praised Serkis as the best actor he has ever worked with. It was no wonder then that Ball considered bringing Serkis on board to play a new character, which could have been an exciting surprise for fans. However, it seems that the decision was ultimately made to utilize Serkis' expertise in a different capacity.
