‘War for the Planet of the Apes’ girl is Nova, represents the battle for Caesar’s soul

While the Planet of the Apes reboot series has a few references to the classic original series, the story remains Caesar centric, but the next chapter, War for the Planet of the Apes, looks to be making a much more notable reference to the originals through the inclusion of the mysterious girl that was glimpsed riding with Maurice in the film’s first trailer.

According to Entertainment Weekly, the girl is Nova, a character first played by actress Linda Harrison in the 1968 original.

EW confirms that the characters are one and the same, and not just a nod to the first film. According to director Matt Reeves, it will be Nova that serves as an embodiment of Caesar’s moral dilemma.

“The battle is not just between the humans and the apes, but in Caesar’s soul,” Reeves told the publication. “The girl is his pull back to his empathy and — for lack of a better word — his human side.”

In War, Caesar (Andy Serkis) finds himself on something of a revenge path against a human character played by Woody Harrelson, whose death he believes may finally put an end to this war once and for all.

Producer Dylan Clark explains a plot point which could fill in these gaps.

“Caesar goes on a journey at the end of the first act because he doesn’t believe he’s fit to lead. Apes have found where they think they can live without human fighting. A promised land, so to speak. A place where they can start over. A safer, more beautiful land they can inhabit. And he goes on a dark quest. … Caesar and his group pick up a blonde girl, a little girl — along the way and there’s a great scene, they’re going to leave her and she’s young and not able to take care of herself and Caesar says we’re not taking her and Maurice says to Caesar — I understand but I’m not leaving her. And you love Maurice. And the next cut is the little girl on the back of a horse, holding onto a big orangutan, looking at Caesar.”

The film also stars Steve Zahn, Judy Greer, Terry Notary, Karin Konoval, and Max Lloyd-Jones.

War for the Planet of the Apes opens in theaters on July 14, 2017.