- I love you, son.
- Caesar and Cornelius reunited.[src]
Cornelius was an evolved chimpanzee, the youngest offspring of the deceased Caesar and Cornelia, as well as the younger sibling of the late Blue Eyes. Through his father, he was the youngest grandson of the late Bright Eyes and the late Alpha. Cornelius stood as the second in line to inherit the colony, following his elder brother. After the passing of his parents, Caesar and Cornelia, along with his brother Blue Eyes, Cornelius became the sole successor to Caesar's legacy.
Biography
Dawn of the Planet of the Apes
A decade after the apes had departed from the city and flourished in the Muir Woods, Caesar returned from a hunting expedition to discover that his wife, Cornelia, was in labor. He hurried to their tree, arriving just in time to support Cornelia through a challenging delivery, which was fraught with complications, unlike the smoother birth of Blue Eyes. Their newborn son, who would later be named Cornelius, let out a cry as he took his first breath and was cradled in his mother's arms. Both parents looked at him with joy, and soon after, they turned to see their elder son, who bore scars from a wild bear encounter, entering the tree to meet his new brother. As their parents lovingly touched Cornelius, they ensured he felt their presence and recognized them as his family.
In his infancy, Cornelius spent the majority of his time resting alongside his mother, who was experiencing complications following childbirth. One day, while they were both asleep, a gunshot echoed through the forest, startling Caesar awake. He quickly gathered a large group of apes to investigate the source of the noise and soon came upon a group of humans confronting Blue Eyes and Ash, the son of Rocket, who had been shot by one of the humans.
The following evening, after Caesar struck an agreement with the group of humans—comprising Malcolm, Ellie, Alexander, Carver, Foster, and Kemp—he returned to find Cornelius peacefully asleep while Cornelia was breathing heavily. This caused Caesar some concern, but Cornelia reassured him that she merely required some rest. Caesar then turned his attention to Cornelius, feeling anxious that the humans' presence might jeopardize both him and the tribe, a sentiment that Cornelia fully comprehended.
At daybreak, Caesar and Blue Eyes carried Cornelius, allowing Cornelia some much-needed rest, and they reached the hydroelectric dam site just as Malcolm's team commenced their efforts to repair it and bring electricity back to the remnants of San Francisco. Together with Rocket and the orangutan Maurice, Caesar and Blue Eyes, with Cornelius cradled in his brother's embrace, stood watch until Caesar realized that Koba, the bonobo, was missing. Fully alert, Cornelius observed his environment while nestled in his brother's arms.
While working on their mission, Malcolm's team set off an explosive to clear debris inside the dam, inadvertently trapping themselves in the process. Fortunately, Rocket, Ash, and a gorilla named Luca entered the dam to rescue them, escorting them outside so Ellie could attend to Carver's injuries while the others cleaned off the dirt. Cornelius, curious about the humans, leaped from his brother's arms as Malcolm expressed his gratitude to Caesar and outlined the next steps for his group. Cornelius climbed onto Ellie's back for a better view before positioning himself in front of Alexander's knee. He observed both Ellie and Alexander, who began to bond with the young ape until he crouched down to inspect Alexander's shoe, then made his way to an open case. As he sifted through the case's contents, he stumbled upon a shotgun that Carver had concealed, despite the agreement between Malcolm and Caesar that the group would relinquish all weapons in exchange for their safety. Spotting Cornelius, Carver leapt up and shouted for him to get off the case, which provoked Blue Eyes and led him to attack the human. Cornelius quickly vacated the case and sought refuge while Blue Eyes defended against Foster and Kemp, who were attempting to subdue Carver. Carver seized the gun and aimed it at Blue Eyes, shocking everyone present until Caesar intervened and disarmed Carver. Realizing the unintended chaos he had caused, Caesar discarded the weapon into the lake and swiftly grabbed Cornelius as he dashed toward his father, who was urging Malcolm to leave.
Upon their return to the village, Caesar and Blue-Eyes were met by a distressed Sparrow, one of the midwives attending to Cornelia. She urgently informed them that Cornelia's condition had deteriorated significantly. With Cornelius peacefully asleep in their arms, Caesar and Blue-Eyes hurried to their tree, where they found Tinker and another midwife by Cornelia's side. Her breathing had become increasingly labored, and she had fallen unresponsive. Both Cornelius' father and brother remained close to Cornelia until Rocket brought up Malcolm and Ellie. They expressed their apologies and reached a new arrangement: Ellie would provide Cornelia with antibiotics, while Caesar agreed to let Malcolm's group stay for one day. In exchange, Carver would be removed from the forest and kept away from the apes while they assisted Malcolm's group in repairing the dam, a decision that frustrated Cornelius' brother.
The next evening, Cornelius's mother made an astonishing recovery and emerged from Caesar's tree, holding Cornelius tenderly in her arms. Caesar, who had allowed Malcolm's group—excluding Carver—to enter their village and witness the revival of the city lights after the dam repairs and restoration of power, approached her. They shared a heartfelt embrace before he led her young son to marvel at the illuminated skyline. Positioned near a cliff at the base of the tree's roots, Cornelius stayed close to his mother as she neared Blue Eyes, who joyfully welcomed her back, relieved to see her unharmed. However, this moment of joy was abruptly interrupted when Koba, lurking in the shadows and driven by bitterness after his humiliation at the hands of Caesar, shot him, sending Caesar plummeting off the cliff. Cornelius wept as Cornelia and Blue Eyes called out for Caesar, only to witness the village engulfed in flames, a catastrophe secretly orchestrated by Stone. Koba then appeared, deceitfully asserting that humans were to blame for Caesar's demise and the village's destruction, and he declared war on the humans in the city. He commanded that the children and female apes remain in the forest while the male apes advanced toward the city.
Two nights later, Cornelius and Cornelia made their way to the city at Koba's request. As dawn broke, all the women and children arrived at the colony, an incomplete structure where the remaining humans resided, only to discover that several apes had perished due to an explosion triggered by the colony's leader. Blue Eyes located the sleeping Cornelius and his mother, bringing them to Caesar, who had survived Koba's assault. Cornelius's father, mother, and brother shared a heartfelt embrace before Caesar reestablished his authority over the group and began strategizing for war, while Malcolm alerted Caesar to the impending arrival of a military unit heading to San Francisco.
War for the Planet of the Apes
At the age of two, Cornelius has come to understand the harsh realities of war, as his tribe has been engaged in conflict with Alpha-Omega for the past two years. They have sought refuge in a concealed cave system behind a waterfall. One day, while Cornelius was walking alongside his mother, Cornelia, his father returned home with a group of injured apes. Cornelia was overjoyed to see her eldest son, Blue Eyes, and Rocket, who had just returned from their quest to find a new home for the tribe. As Cornelia embraced Blue Eyes, Cornelius rushed to his father, taking his hand. Having not seen his brother for two years, he hesitated to greet him when Blue Eyes turned to acknowledge him. With his mother’s gentle encouragement, Cornelius began to remember Blue Eyes as Caesar lifted him up and held him close. Nervously, Cornelius waved at his brother, while his mother guided Blue Eyes toward his wife, Lake. As Blue Eyes and Lake shared a heartfelt embrace, Cornelius observed the joyful reunion of his parents, who were equally delighted to see their son return safely.
During the night, Cornelius remained by his mother's side as she engaged in a council meeting with his father, Blue Eyes, along with Lake, Rocket, Spear, and the orangutans Maurice and Percy, as well as the gorillas Luca and Winter, the tribe's only albino member. With keen interest, Cornelius studied a map that his older brother had shown him, which detailed the route to their new home: a pristine oasis concealed by a range of mountains. Shortly after, he was pulled back to his mother’s side, where she inquired of Blue Eyes about what lay beyond the mountains, all while Cornelius clung to her leg. In response, Blue Eyes retrieved one of Rocket's satchels and extracted some sand, which Cornelius eagerly tried to snatch from Lake's hand. Blue Eyes then disclosed that a vast desert stretched beyond the mountains, serving as an ideal barrier to deter humans from searching for the tribe in that area. As Cornelius drifted off to sleep, Winter passionately argued for the tribe to depart that very night. However, Caesar and Blue Eyes firmly stated that they were not yet prepared, cautioning that an immediate move could jeopardize the entire tribe. Caesar reassured all the apes that they would ensure the safety of their forest home as long as they remained united.
Later that evening, Cornelius shared a bed with his mother and brother while his father remained awake, poring over the map. In his slumber, Cornelius let out a hoot, prompting Caesar to gently stroke his son's head. Suddenly, their brother stirred them awake, urgently informing them that danger had arrived. Cornelius and his mother found themselves positioned behind Blue Eyes as he spotted a female soldier emerging from a cave beneath her nest. Cornelia kept Cornelius crouched low as the soldier navigated around the rock pillar that supported her nest, leaving her vulnerable. In a swift motion, Blue Eyes knocked her to the ground and brutally attacked her. Meanwhile, Cornelia concealed Cornelius in a deep crevice at the base of the rock pillar. Frozen in place, Cornelius watched in horror as gunfire erupted at the cavern's entrance, followed by the tragic sight of his brother and mother collapsing near the slain female soldier, both lifeless, leaving the young ape traumatized. Paralyzed with fear, Cornelius remained motionless as the assailant reported the death of the ape leader. Unbeknownst to him, his father had returned to the scene, witnessing Colonel McCullough, the killer, preparing to depart, while his wife and eldest son lay dead. Fueled by rage, Caesar set out to confront the murderer, with more apes emerging from one of the tunnels in pursuit.
The group of apes, consisting of Luca, Spear, Rocket, and Maurice, embarked on a quest to find Cornelius, who had gone missing, leaving Caesar heartbroken as he gazed upon the aftermath of his family's tragedy. Sensing his father's furious breaths, Cornelius chose to make his presence known. Caesar, overwhelmed with relief at the sight of his son, opened his arms wide. Cornelius rushed into his embrace, tears streaming down his face, while Caesar comforted him, reassuring him of his safety.
In the early hours of the day, Cornelius strolled alongside his father through the encampment, where the tribe was busily preparing to depart due to the imminent threat to their sanctuary by the lakeside. Caesar approached a visibly upset Lake and entrusted her with the responsibility of looking after Cornelius, as he would not be joining the tribe on their journey to the oasis. Cornelius pleaded with his father not to abandon him, yet ultimately chose to comply as he moved to stand beside Lake. It was then that he noticed Maurice engaged in conversation with Caesar, realizing that Maurice was intent on confronting the soldiers. However, Caesar disclosed his true intention of pursuing the colonel with the intent to eliminate him, prompting Maurice to remind Caesar that the tribe could not leave without his presence. Caesar insisted that they had no choice but to act swiftly, as the soldiers could return in overwhelming numbers. Overcome with emotion, Cornelius cried out for his father while Lake attempted to soothe him. Caesar then revealed his strategy to mislead the soldiers, providing the tribe with a crucial opportunity to escape the forest before he departed. Cornelius wept alongside the tribe as Caesar vanished into the woods, followed closely by Maurice, Luca, and Rocket, who chose to accompany him on this perilous mission.
As they emerged from the forest, the tribe was met with a terrifying sight: Alpha-Omega had intercepted them, poised to eliminate the apes. However, the Colonel intervened, ordering the apes to return to their base located along the northern California border. Upon arrival at the Alpha-Omega facility, which had once been a weapons silo repurposed into a relocation center during the Simian Flu Pandemic, the tribe faced further distress. Cornelius and the other young apes were forcibly separated from the adult members, who were compelled to construct a wall. Days later, Cornelius was taken aback when he spotted his father, who had managed to locate the Colonel's base. His heart sank as he realized that his tribe had been captured and was now confined in a pen, with the adult apes shackled under the watchful eyes of the Colonel, a soldier, and a donkey. In a moment of desperation, Cornelius called out to his father, inadvertently drawing the Colonel's attention, who was unaware that Caesar had another son. Caesar, however, did not acknowledge Cornelius, as he sought to shield him from harm. The Colonel, disregarding Caesar's wishes, ordered the soldier and the donkey to confine Caesar within the pen. Once they departed, Cornelius wept and reached out to his father, yearning to connect with him through the cold metal bars.
Over the course of the next three days, Cornelius and the other children observed as the soldiers and donkeys instilled fear in the adults, compelling them to labor tirelessly. However, one fateful day, Caesar, Rocket, and Maurice, who had been concealing themselves outside the base, formulated a daring plan to liberate the apes and escape the facility. Caesar learned that an army from the north was advancing to confront Alpha-Omega. On the third night, Caesar and Rocket successfully obtained the key to the enclosures and stealthily entered the children's pen, just as the tunnel they had excavated began to fill with water, drawing them closer together. When Cornelius awoke, he turned to find his father, battered and marked by scars, standing before him. Overjoyed, he embraced him tightly. Caesar and Rocket then guided the young apes to scale the wires above the enclosures, ensuring they remained out of the soldiers' line of sight, before leaping toward the adult pens. Cornelius clung to his father's back as they and Rocket returned to the adult enclosure, where they created an opening in the ground. Maurice was the first to rescue Cornelius, aided by a mute human girl and a talking chimpanzee, who led him through a tunnel that ran beneath the base and out into freedom.
As the majority of the children were guided into the forest adjacent to the base, the northern army made their entrance and commenced firing upon the installation. With the arrival of dawn, Cornelius, accompanied by Lake, Maurice, and a silent girl named Nova, observed the brutal clash between the opposing human forces, which culminated in a catastrophic explosion that allowed the northern army to breach the base. Cornelius found himself pondering the whereabouts of his father when Maurice, having spotted an avalanche triggered by the blast, instructed him and all the ape children to ascend the trees. Clinging to a branch alongside Lake, Cornelius faced the oncoming avalanche until it finally subsided, entombing the entire base and claiming the lives of both the Northern Army and the remaining Alpha-Omega. Turning at the sound of Rocket's hooting, Cornelius was overjoyed to see his father alive and suspended from a tree, equally relieved and delighted to find the surviving members of his tribe safe.
A few days after the tribe departed from the base and continued their journey, Cornelius found himself cradled in his father's arms as they approached an oasis. Both the children and adult apes began to make their way toward this refreshing spot. Cornelius noticed Nova, who glanced at him before shyly retreating beside her father. However, when he signaled her to come closer, she did, and together they walked alongside Bad Ape, the talkative chimpanzee who had joined their group. Cornelius quickly grew attached to them, engaging in playful activities while casting joyful glances at his father. Unbeknownst to him, his father was succumbing to a grave injury, and it was only when Maurice's anguished cries echoed through the air that the tribe realized the tragic loss they were about to face.
Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes
In the flashback, Cornelius was present at his late father's funeral, accompanied by Lake, Maurice, Rocket, and the other members of their colony. Following the cremation of Caesar's body, he stood next to Lake, observing as Maurice, Rocket, and the other apes signed the phrase "Apes Together Strong," while his father's ashes were released into the wind.
Legacy
Following the death of Cornelius' father, Maurice, Rocket, and Lake supported Cornelius in safeguarding his father's teachings and the established laws. This guidance enabled him to grasp the profound influence his father had on him, his community, and his loved ones. As Cornelius grew older, he ultimately took on the role of king of the San Francisco Ape Colony, continuing his family's legacy until his own demise.
The existence of any living descendants of Cornelius remains uncertain; however, it is highly probable that he fathered one or more children who perpetuated his lineage for the subsequent 300 years. Consequently, it is conceivable that Cornelius may still have living descendants by the year 2328.
Personality
Cornelius, as a baby, is closely monitored by his family, particularly his protective older brother, Blue Eyes. Despite the watchful eye of his family, Cornelius still manages to explore and satisfy his curiosity. When his father saves Malcolm, his family, and Carver from an explosion, Cornelius and Blue Eyes are there when Caesar, along with their honorary uncles, Maurice and Rocket, meet up with the humans. Cornelius becomes intrigued and ventures over to Ellie and Alexander to investigate them for himself, but he discovers something even more interesting: the humans' box of supplies. Cornelius is nearly injured, but Blue Eyes comes to his rescue, attacking Carver for trying to harm his brother.
As a two-year-old, Cornelius has outgrown his curious nature from infancy and has become timid and shy. This is evident when he holds Cornelia or Caesar's hand while walking. He even appeared shy around his older brother Blue Eyes due to his absence during the war against Alpha-Omega. Despite his hesitance, Cornelius was able to warm up and remember his brother again, partly due to the support of his parents.
Following the passing of his mother and brother, Cornelius relied heavily on his father, as shown by his frequent calls to him, as well as to Lake, his brother's widow who took care of the younger apes. Despite his initial shyness towards strangers, Cornelius can eventually open up and form friendships with new individuals, such as Nova and Bad Ape.
Physical Appearance
Cornelius resembled a typical chimpanzee infant, with black fur and tan skin, no teeth, and a combination of his parents' facial features. He inherited his mother's trait of having a part in his hair on top of his head, as well as his parents' green eyes. By the age of two, Cornelius' hair had become slightly lighter than his parents' and he had grown to the average height of a juvenile chimp.
Abilities
- Genius-Level Intellect: Due to being an evolved ape; Cornelius was a highly intelligent; because his parents, Caesar and Cornelia had inhaled the ALZ-113 early in their life, Cornelius had a higher level of intelligence than both of his parents combined. Cornelius, along; with his older brother, Blue Eyes; was the most intelligent ape in the entire San Francisco Ape Colony.
- Speech: Due to being an evolved ape; Cornelius was capable of speech; but; he only spoke through the use of sign language; due to his young age at the time. it can be assumed that; Cornelius' English and sentences had greatly improved (off-screen); by the time that; he had reached adulthood.
- Sign Language: Due to the fact that; Cornelius was taught; by his parents, Caesar and Cornelia, and his honorary uncle, Maurice respectively; he was highly skilled in the art of sign language; for example, he used it as a way to communicate; with other apes; who could not speak or have limited verbal speech.
Relationships
Notes
- Like Cornelius parents, Caesar and Cornelia; but unlike his older brother, Blue Eyes; he had green colored eyes.
- Cornelius and Blue Eyes do not seem to possess the shooting star birthmark their father, Caesar and their paternal grandfather, Alpha had.
Trivia
- Cornelius is named after Roddy McDowall's and David Watson's Cornelius I and Bobby Porter's Cornelius II from Planet of the Apes, Beneath the Planet of the Apes, Escape from the Planet of the Apes and Battle for the Planet of the Apes.
- Cornelius was mentioned at Comic Con 2013; by Andy Serkis and director Matt Reeves; but; without his name.
- Cornelius was mentioned again; by Andy Serkis; during an interview at CinemaCon. One of the scenes shown at the Fox screening was the festivities involving Cornelia, seen wearing a crown of flowers, having just given birth to this child.
- Until the release of War for the Planet of the Apes: Revelations, Cornelius went under the name Milo. During that period, there was speculation from one entertainment site that; this infant's name could be Cornelius. Another site has suggested the name Milo and that; the baby could be considered the equivalent to Roddy McDowall's Caesar; when he was born as Milo in Escape from the Planet of the Apes.
- It was confirmed; by Andy Serkis in an interview; with USA Today that; the baby was a boy.
- In the over-all Planet of the Apes franchise, Cornelius' birth is the third recorded ape infant. The first was Milo, later known as Caesar; who was born in Escape from the Planet of the Apes. The second was Milo's father, Caesar; who was born off-screen in Rise of the Planet of the Apes.
- Nick Thurston had revealed on Facebook that; there was a joke on set that; Andy Serkis came up; with that; the baby's name was Will, named in honor of Caesar's adoptive father, Will; which had served as an on set easter egg for the cast.
- Cornelius is also the first Chimpanzee sibling to appear in either of the two film franchises.
- Before the release of Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes, fans believed that; Cornelius was going to be the protagonist along; with Nova; before it was confirmed to be a new, unrelated character born years after, Noa.
Gallery
Appearances
- Dawn of the Planet of the Apes (novelization)
- War for the Planet of the Apes: Revelations
- War for the Planet of the Apes (novelization)
- War for the Planet of the Apes (BOOM! Studios)