9 Genuinely Subtle Ways Movies Planned For The Sequel In Advance

3. Caesar Lets Koba Kill Jacobs - Rise Of The Planet Of The Apes

Rise of the Planet of the Apes seemed to implicitly set up a sequel by ending with the apes disappearing into the Californian forest, but there's actually a scene a few minutes earlier which subtly sets up Dawn of the Planet of the Apes' real central conflict.

Scarred bonobo Koba (Christopher Gordon) is freed by Caesar (Andy Serkis) during the ape uprising, and the pivotal moment for the abused ape's character comes deep in the third act, when Caesar allows him to murder the arrogant biotech bigwig Jacobs (David Oyelowo).

Caesar had every opportunity to rescue Jacobs from his downed helicopter before it plunged from the Golden Gate Bridge, but he instead leaves Jacobs to his fate while giving Koba the literal nod to do whatever he wishes, prompting him to boot the chopper off the edge of the bridge.

This is the turning point for Koba, legitimising his violent hatred towards humans and causing a schism of leadership between Caesar and Koba which defines the sequel, ending of course with Caesar killing Koba.

It's also a point which the sequel itself engages with, accepting that Koba's descent was hastened by what Caesar did on the bridge. And rich, thoughtful characterisation like that is why the new Apes movies are some of the finest blockbusters around.