Return to the Planet of the Apes concepts would be Tim Burton's reimagining in 2001. Along with the second film "Beneath the Planet of the Apes", this is one of only two original "Planet of the Apes" productions in which Roddy McDowall was not involved. In 1975, after the failure of the live-action series, NBC and 20th Century Fox agreed to adapt "Planet of the Apes" for an animated series. The network contracted DePatie-Freleng Enterprises to produce a half-hour Saturday-morning cartoon titled "Return to the Planet of the Apes". Doug Wildey, co-creator of "Jonny Quest", took on most creative control as associate producer, storyboard director, and supervising
Planet of the Apes imprisoned in a primate sanctuary, Caesar uses his ingenuity to launch an uprising. The screenplay contains complex connections to other entries in the series, causing some confusion as to its exact relation to them. Oliver Lindler writes that while the film's premise might identify it as a remake of "Conquest", official dispatches and professional reviewers typically avoided the term, instead calling the film a prequel or "origin story" to the original "Planet of the Apes" film, and/or a reboot of the series; fans and bloggers were more apt to refer to it as a "remake". The completed script attracted director