Well, hello there new Planet of the Apes Dr. Zaius figure. In advance of the release of three new figures based in the ’68 original, accessory and figure make NECA tweeted this packshot featuring everyone’s favorite ape scientist in all 7 inches of his orangutan glory.
The not-so-good Dr. Zaius joins new 7-inch figures of Dr. Cornelius and a Gorilla Soldier being released as part of the Planet of the Apes Classic Series, based on the 1968 film. NECA announced the series back in January, but this is the first good look we’ve gotten at the planned packaging which will also include character-specific accessories.
Theatrical and film actor Maurice Evans (1901-1989) played Dr. Zaius in Planet of the Apes, returning for the role in the 1970 sequel, Beneath the Planet of the Apes. Dr. Zaius is one of the first to realize that Taylor (Charlton Heston) can speak, and wants the human astronaut killed so that the secret of talking humans doesn’t spread throughout ape society. It’s Dr. Zaius who leads Taylor and Nova out into the Forbidden Zone where they encounter the fallen Statue of Liberty, leading to one of the greatest twist endings in film history (don’t argue with me on this one, kids).
Our own Witney Seibold has revisited both films in our Great Apes! series, looking back at the films in the classic science fiction franchise.
