Exclusive new War for the Planet of the Apes image shows Caesar ready for battle

Caesar and his ape army are going into battle in War for the Planet of the Apes, and you can read the full on-set story in the new issue of Total Film magazine - out this Friday, June 30.

And below, we’ve got an exclusive image from Matt Reeves’ upcoming threequel, the reboot trilogy closer that sees noble Caesar fight battles within his heart – his desire for vengeance conflicts with his quest for peace – and across post-apocalyptic landscapes as he leads his ape army against Woody Harrelson’s callous human Colonel.

This pic sees Caesar and co. on a mission to find the Colonel, and those grizzled faces peering across the icy terrain should give you a good idea of what to expect from the movie – plenty of sorrow and soul-searching, with even the thrilling set-pieces packing real emotional punch.

Coming after Rise of the Planet of the Apes and Dawn of the Planet of the Apes, War sees Weta take effects to the next level to give us the most impressive CG characters ever created. Mo-cap man Andy Serkis, meanwhile, does anything but join the dots - it's his most powerhouse turn yet.

This image can be found in the new issue of Total Film, out Friday June 30, along with some other exclusive images and our in-depth coverage of Reeves’ blockbuster. Pick it up next week or subscribe so you never miss an issue. It's not worth monkeying around.

Jamie Graham is a freelance writer and former Editor-at-Large of Total Film magazine. You'll likely find them around these parts reviewing the biggest films on the planet and speaking to some of the biggest stars in the business – that's just what Jamie does. Jamie has also written for outlets like SFX and the Sunday Times Culture, and appeared on podcasts exploring the wondrous worlds of occult and horror.