Warning: Contains SPOILERS for Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes!

Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes‘ most tragic death is quite shocking in the film, but luckily the situation surrounding the death means that the sequel can reverse it. While Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes features a lot of character deaths, one stands out as being especially tragic, with it costing the life of one of the main ape characters. Since Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes is the start of a new Planet of the Apes trilogy, however, it is entirely possible that this main character could return.

Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes is finally here, with the highly anticipated continuation of the beloved modern reboot trilogy now out. A new trilogy is set to be started by Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes, with the series presumably continuing to follow Noa in the wake of the events of the fourth modern Planet of the Apes film. While some arcs may seem to have ended definitively in Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes, this may not be the case across the board.

Raka’s Death In Kingdom Of The Planet Of The Apes Isn’t Definitive

Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes introduced an all-new orangutan character, with the supporting ape being named Raka. Raka starts out as one of Noa’s only allies in his journey to take down the masked ape clan, with him joining Noa and the talking human Mae on their journeys. However, the trio is eventually attacked by the masked apes while on a bridge, leading to the death of Raka.

Although Raka doesn’t appear in Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes again after the bridge scene, his death in the film isn’t definitive. Raka is seen being whisked away by the strong river currents, but his body is never seen again, meaning that he could have made it to shore and simply didn’t find Noa and Mae before the end of the film.

What Raka’s Return Would Mean For Kingdom Of The Planet Of The Apes’ Sequel

Raka’s return in a Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes sequel would be a big deal, with the character having a major impact on future films. If Raka is to return, he could help Noa’s clan learn more about books and the remains of humankind, which Raka specialized in before his death.

Raka’s return could also mean that Noa and his apes are able to learn more about Caesar, who was a major figure in the film despite his death hundreds of years before. Raka seemed to be an expert on the legends of Caesar, and his knowledge on the subject could continued to be shared with Noa if he returns in the film after Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes.