CUPERTINO, CA — Apple Original Films has officially landed one of the most anticipated sci-fi packages of the year. Emmy winner Yahya Abdul-Mateen II (Watchmen, Aquaman) and Academy Award nominee Vanessa Kirby (Napoleon, The Crown) are set to headline Laminal, a high-concept thriller from director Gerard Bush and Christopher Renz.
The project marks another major acquisition for Apple TV+, which continues to aggressively expand its slate of prestige genre filmmaking following the success of Severance and Silo.
A Mind-Bending Premise
While specific plot details are being kept under tight wraps, Laminal is described as a “visceral, reality-bending thriller” set in a near-future where the boundaries between human memory and digital surveillance have dissolved.
- The Lead Roles: Abdul-Mateen II is reportedly playing a specialized “memory architect” tasked with scrubbing the subconscious of high-profile clients.
- The Conflict: Kirby stars as a mysterious woman from his past who appears in a restricted file, triggering a global chase that challenges the protagonist’s understanding of what is real.
- The Creative Vision: The filmmaking duo Bush + Renz, known for the provocative Antebellum, are expected to bring their signature striking visual style to the project.
Powerhouse Pairing
The casting of Abdul-Mateen II and Kirby brings together two of Hollywood’s most sought-after stars.
The chemistry between the two is already a major talking point in the industry. “Yahya and Vanessa are two of the most magnetic performers working today,” said an Apple Studios spokesperson. “Putting them together in a world as complex as Laminal is exactly the kind of elevated storytelling we want to champion.”
Production and Release
Laminal is produced by Monkeypaw Productions (Jordan Peele’s banner) in association with Apple Studios. The screenplay was written by Bush + Renz, based on an original concept developed at the studio.
Filming is scheduled to begin in London and Iceland in late 2026, with a tentative release window for late 2027. The film is expected to receive a significant theatrical push before moving to the Apple TV+ streaming platform, following the studio’s recent trend of large-scale cinematic releases.
Apple’s Growing Sci-Fi Empire
With Laminal, Apple further cements its status as the “home of modern sci-fi.” The studio’s current roster includes:
- Constellation (Starring Noomi Rapace)
- Dark Matter (Starring Joel Edgerton)
- Foundation (Based on Isaac Asimov’s novels)
Fans of cerebral, big-budget thrillers are already circling Laminal as a potential awards-season contender for 2027.
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