Audiences will soon meet the villainous bonobo Proximus Caesar in Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes, and actor Kevin Durand revealed an interesting connection between his character and tech mogul Elon Musk during an interview on the Inside Total Film podcast. When interviewers pointed out similarities between Proximus and Musk, Durand found it amusing and admitted that people often compare him to Musk, even when he’s portraying an ape. He shared how Musk served as one of his inspirations while preparing for the role, noting Musk’s charisma and powerful presence.
Durand explained, “I did look at really charismatic speakers — I watched Tony Robbins quite a bit, Elon, Arnold Schwarzenegger doing like his governor speeches. Just these humans who without trying, you just have to watch them as they hold so much power and charisma.”
In the film, Proximus Caesar emerges as a disruptor in the electricity space, rediscovering electrical power and using it to establish dominance over his fellow apes in a post-human society. Director Wes Ball described Proximus as more than just a typical villain, portraying him as an adversary with understandable motives and complexities.
Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes is set 300 years after the previous reboot trilogy and follows new chimp protagonist Noa, played by Owen Teague. Teague discussed his character’s journey, stating that Noa’s curiosity and wonder drive him to explore the unknown world around him and confront the challenges that arise.
Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes arrives in theaters this Friday, promising an intriguing new chapter in the beloved franchise.
