The new action film "Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes" will hit local theaters on May 8. Courtesy of Walt Disney Company Korea Courtesy of 20th Century Studios

American director Wes Ball revealed that the new blockbuster, "Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes," the fourth installment of "The Planet of the Apes" reboot, will open a new chapter in the long-running franchise's saga.

"One of the important things for us early on was making sure that we came up with a story that felt it had a reason to exist. We really wanted to make a story that could basically launch a new set of stories," the director said during an online press conference for the film, Tuesday.

The sci-fi action film, set to premiere in local theaters on May 8, takes place 300 years after the reign of Caesar, a super-intelligent chimpanzee. Apes have become the dominant species, causing humans to live in the shadows. When a ruthless leader named Proximus (played by Kevin Durand) invades a peaceful clan, Noa (played by Owen Teague), a member of the tribe, embarks on a journey to locate and rescue his abducted family and friends.

Along the way, he encounters Mae (played by Freya Allan), a feral human, and Raka (played by Peter Macon), an evolved orangutan. Noa joins forces with them to shape the future of both apes and humans, drawing inspiration from Caesar's teachings.

Director Wes Ball on the set of the film "Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes" / Courtesy of Walt Disney Company Korea

The director, who previously helmed the "Maze Runner" trilogy, noted the new film builds the foundation for a completely new set of characters and story, while keeping the core value of the long legacy of the franchise.

"I tried very hard to make sure that we felt like we had similar sensibilities. I didn't want to completely reboot or redo all the goodwill that happened in the previous movies that were so well received. But at the same time we wanted to do a more adventurous tone and, very much a new beginning," he said.

"(I) wanted it to kind of feel like a new chapter. This turned the page to what was going to be hopefully a part one, a new saga that was going to open up … It's not quite as heavy as the previous movies but at the same time still, this is emotionally evolving and visually spectacular."

Noa (Owen Teague) in the film "Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes" / Courtesy of Walt Disney Company Korea

The movie showcases spectacular visual effects for Noa's adventure, featuring meticulously rendered ape characters.

The director emphasized that realistic VFX works will help the audience immerse themselves in the world of apes.

"(Visual effects) are part of the spectacle of going to these movies to believe these characters you can actually engage with and believe that they are real … We want people to sink into the reality of it all," he said.

"There's about 30 or 35 minutes of 100 percent full computer graphics in the movie which means every blade of grass, every blowing leaf in the wind, the entire world and everything; which is new for 'The Planet of the Apes' movie and I hope no one will notice."