Freya Allan steps into a vastly transformed Earth in the latest installment of the celebrated "Planet of the Apes" series, "Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes." Unlike its predecessor, War for the Planet of the Apes, this film catapults audiences 300 years into the future where roles between humans and apes have dramatically shifted.
The series has long been hailed for its engaging blend of adventure and nuanced, thematic storytelling that mirrors societal issues.
"My mom said to me when I was going through the audition process that that first movie, the 1968 movie, had such an impact on her," Allan, who stars as Mae, shared.
In this new chapter, humans are no longer the dominant species, instead, relegated to "the shadows," as Allan describes it. "So now apes are dominant."
Allan, portraying one of the few intelligent humans remaining, finds herself navigating this ape-ruled world. "I think that's what's so great. I really feel like our movie has everything in it," Allan remarked. She emphasized the blend of humor, hope, and introspection that enriches the film.
Portraying such a crucial role came with its unique challenges, particularly when acting opposite characters who would later be rendered through CGI technology.
"They've got these sort of balls all over them, and they've got wires all over their bodies," Allan described.
This technical complexity required Allan to perform scenes multiple times – sometimes with her ape-playing colleagues, and sometimes without, to allow for CGI effects to be added in post-production.
"It was a very bizarre process and became very technical, but at the same time, I had to kind of forget the technicalities and just remind myself of the emotion," she confessed.
Allan, 22, also called the process the most challenging of her young career.
Despite these challenges, Allan's passion for her craft and the story shines through.
"Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes" opens May 10.
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