Hints of War for the Planet of the Apes connecting to the original Planet of the Apes have been lingering since trailers for the movie were released. Though these films are a part of the same universe when that bridge closes the gap is still not clear.

However, a newly released trailer seems to indicate that it might be closer than originally thought. That’s because it has footage that has led up to the latest installment, with Charleston Heston himself providing the narration. Check out the latest trailer below.

The trailer opens with Heston saying “I refuse to accept the end of man,” as flashes of the progress of man play out. But as soon as he says “I believe he will endure, he will prevail,” footage from Dawn of the Planet of the Apes starts to show up as apes scatter on San Francisco rooftops. While the trailer goes back to the progress of man, it isn’t long until we see Rise of the Planet of the Apes footage where Caesar (Andy Serkis) gives a peaceful embrace to Jason Clarke.

However, it suddenly takes an 180 turn when Heston proclaims “I refuse to accept the end of man,” and a startled Caesar awakens from what appears to be a nightmare.

It won’t be long until we see the finale to the reboot trilogy. What the end means for the future of the franchise is still not clear. Does it continue to tell the story of the fall of man or does it jump right into a reboot of Planet of the Apes? But the ominous “Witness The End” tag towards the end of the trailer seems to indicate that this is indeed the final chapter of the prequel series.

As for the speech, it was not from the original Planet of the Apes, but rather, a speech Heston gave during the commencement of the opening of the Ronald Reagan Library.

So perhaps using that speech from an actor who appeared in the original Apes films appeals to a sense of irony. The fact that mankind “will endure” and “will “prevail” seems unlikely in these films considering how apes have continued to thrive while man has fallen.

Steve Zahn, Judy Greer, Amiah Miller, Karin Konoval, Gabriel Chavarria, and Terry Notary also star.

Here’s the official synopsis:

In War for the Planet of the Apes, the third chapter of the critically acclaimed blockbuster franchise, Caesar and his apes are forced into a deadly conflict with an army of humans led by a ruthless Colonel. After the apes suffer unimaginable losses, Caesar wrestles with his darker instincts and begins his own mythic quest to avenge his kind. As the journey finally brings them face to face, Caesar and the Colonel are pitted against each other in an epic battle that will determine the fate of both their species and the future of the planet.

Directed by Matt Reeves, War for the Planet of the Apes hits theaters on July 14, 2017.

Trailer

[Source: 20th Century Fox YT]