‘Liminal’: Apple’s New Sci-Fi Movie With Vanessa Kirby Sounds Promising — Until You See the Director and Writer Hired

Some are excited about this late afternoon’s announcement that Apple Studios has greenlit “Liminal,” based on the popular AWA graphic novel “Telepaths” (via Deadline).

Oscar nominee Vanessa Kirby (Pieces of a Woman) is there — always a good thing — and Emmy winner Yahya Abdul-Mateen II (Trial of the Chicago 7) will be her co-star — another positive — but wait, we have Louis Leterrier at the helm as director, and that’s where my excitement starts to sink.

Leterrier, who has directed ten movies in the last 25 years, is basically what you would — politely? — call a hack. There’s not much substance to any of his loud, crashing action movies, which include “Fast X,” “The Transporter,” “Grimsby,” “Clash of the Titans,” “Unleashed,” and “The Incredible Hulk.” Hey, at least he started a franchise with “Now You See Me.”

The source material for “Liminal” is set “in a world where a tenth of the population suddenly gains telepathic powers as a result of electromagnetic disturbance. Subsequently, newly telepathic Boston police find themselves contending with a faction, led by a wrongly convicted prisoner, who are trying to escape a world in which their powers will make them targets.”

Another red flag: Justin Rhodes penned the screenplay — he wrote “Terminator: Dark Fate,” and two other critically panned movies (“Grassroots,” “Contract Killer”).

So, despite the presence of Kirby and Abdul-Mateen II, unless the stars all align and Leterrier and Rhodes deliver something inspired, don’t expect too much from this project. But, hey, I’m not a film exec, and Apple seemingly believes it’s a good idea to spend $50M+ on this thing. Stay tuned.