‘Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes’ delivers first-ever side-by-side cut of raw footage with final film (exclusive)

A lot of work goes into turning human actors into intelligent primates for the Planet of the Apes movie franchise, and now fans can get a behind-the-scenes look at that complicated process thanks to Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes.

Director Wes Ball‘s new installment in the franchise, which takes place 300 years after 2017’s War for the Planet of the Apes, comes out on 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray on Aug. 27, and that is the only way fans can see a side-by-side cut of the movie using the raw performance-capture footage next to the final version — the first time an entire film has been released this way.

“Inside the Lens: The Raw Cut” is a full-length split-screen version of the movie included as a special feature on the 4K Blu-ray, featuring unfinished VFX and showing how the actors use motion capture to deliver their performances as apes with optional audio commentary by the director, editor Dan Zimmerman, and VFX supervisor Erik Winquist. Entertainment Weekly has an exclusive clip (in the video above) from the raw cut featuring young chimpanzee hunter Noa (Owen Teague) facing off against ruthless leader Proximus Caesar (Kevin Durand), as human Nova, real name Mae (Freya Allen), watches in shock.

“During the year or so spent in post-production, working on more than 1,500 VFX shots, we would frequently compare our VFX works-in-progress with the original footage, ensuring we were getting the details right,” Ball tells EW. “I often found myself completely mesmerized by the magic of WetaFX’s work and how seamlessly it translated from the raw dailies. Around the latter half of post, it struck me how fantastic it would be to share this experience with fans like myself — those who relish peeking behind the curtain of movie making.”

Ball was pleasantly surprised at the response he got to his idea. “When I brought the idea to the studio, there was unsurprisingly no resistance,” he says. “They, too, are film nerds and thought it was a cool idea. The only challenge we faced was logistical — navigating the technicalities of ‘data budgets’ and figuring out how to include an entirely separate version of the film on the discs without sacrificing visual quality.”

The director acknowledges that “this experience may not appeal to everyone.”

“[But] for those fascinated by the filmmaking process — especially with VFX films like Kingdom — they’re going to freakin’ love it,” he adds. “It’s a rare, behind-the-scenes glimpse into the cutting edge of modern cinema.”

Ball was inspired to release this raw cut because he grew up “in the era of DVDs and their rich behind-the-scenes features.”

“I often found myself watching those documentaries more than the movies themselves,” he says. “Unfortunately, we don’t get a lot of that stuff today. So this release is my way of giving back, offering something that would have inspired me as a young filmmaker. Perhaps more importantly, I see this as a unique way to celebrate the extraordinary work of our VFX team at WetaFX, as well as the unseen talent of our amazing actors. Without their dedication, these films simply wouldn’t exist.”

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The director wants to give fans a more realistic peak behind the curtain of what it takes to make visual effects-heavy movies like this. “I believe most general audiences assume this kind of work is just a product of magic software or a push of a computer button,” Ball says. “When in reality, it’s a blend of immense talent, artistry, and collaboration between our VFX team and deeply committed performers that truly brings the magic to life.”

The experience of making Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes taught Ball more than he “could ever know.”

“This film felt like being thrown into the deep end, but thanks to an extraordinary team, it was an incredible journey that allowed me to grow as a filmmaker within this amazing franchise,” he says. “It was a real honor for me. I’ve certainly deepened my understanding of how to wield the technology in more innovative ways, but at the same time, I’ve also reaffirmed a timeless truth: It’s always about story and character. The visuals are there to enhance the audience’s experience, not lead it.”

He adds, “Just as I was beginning to grasp the full scope of the process, it was time to deliver the film to the world. Now, I’m more excited than ever to explore what the future may hold.” 

Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes is now available on Digital and Hulu, and the 4K Blu-ray will be released on Aug. 27.