The Lawgiver is the central religious and historical figure in the Planet of the Apes franchise, credited with writing the "Sacred Scrolls" that form the basis of ape society, law, and their belief in simian superiority. Mentioned as a legendary "Moses like" figure for apes the character finally appears on-screen. played by John Huston in Battle For the Planet of the Apes, in a frame narrative set in 2670.