Years after a deadly virus has decimated humanity and elevated apes to a new level of intelligence, the struggle for dominion between the two species intensifies. Caesar, the wise and benevolent leader of the apes, aims for peaceful coexistence, but his efforts are undermined by the ruthless Colonel, a human military leader determined to eradicate the ape threat. A surprise attack by the Colonel's forces deeply affects Caesar, igniting a powerful thirst for revenge that challenges his core principles and the future he desires for his kind.

Compelled by his personal vendetta, Caesar embarks on a perilous journey through the unforgiving wilderness, seeking to confront the Colonel. Along the way, he is joined by a few trusted companions, and they encounter unexpected allies including a lonely ape who has survived in solitude. The journey tests Caesar's character as he grapples with the darker instincts surfacing within him and the impact of his quest on the ape community he has tried so hard to protect. As tensions escalate, the fate of both species hangs in the balance, with each side fighting for survival and the hope of forging a future in a world changed forever by the echoes of war.