In the year 2029 interstellar reconnaissance missions are relegated to chimpanzee pilots from the Space Station Oberon in deep space. On such a mission a chimp loses communication and vanishes from the radar. Fearless astronaut Leo Davidson launches a rescue mission and following a malfunction lands on a jungle-like planet not unlike the Earth. To Leo's astonishment English-speaking apes and primitive humans inhabit the planet. Following his capture by the apes and subsequent escape Leo assembles a small band of defiant humans and empathetic apes in an attempt to re-establish contact with Oberon but his focus changes following an unexpected discovery. Armed with this new information Leo leads a rebellion against an overpowering ape force that will result in freedom or complete annihilation.