Apple TV+'s Invasion reveals a new side to its co-creator Simon Kinberg, who boasts previous writing and production credits for many older Marvel installments, including the X-Men franchise. Invasion has opened to a decidedly mixed reception, with critics split on reaching a consensus as to whether the Apple TV+ original's glacial pacing overpowers the series' careful character exposition. Invasion is certainly a different offering from Kinberg, whose reputation to date has been built on sweeping, superpowered action sequences.
Invasion creator Simon Kinberg is best known for his work on several pre-MCU Marvel franchises, with the most prominent being the latter stages of the X-Men franchise, with the British-born filmmaker writing and/or producing X-Men: First Class, X Men: Days of Future Past, X: Men Apocalypse and Dark Phoenix. Kinberg's impressive resume also includes credits on Deadpool and Deadpool 2, as well as several blockbuster action movies, including Mr. & Mrs. Smith, XXX: State of the Union, and Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter.
Yet Invasion reveals a new side to X-Men's Simon Kinberg that has rarely been seen in his previous work thus far. Kinberg's projects usually center on the promise of gratuitous, usually superhero-based, action sequences, with many of the director/producer's films being credited for their dazzling visuals. However, Apple TV+'s Invasion shows a new facet to Kinberg's writing, with Invasion's narrative feeling particularly nuanced and restrained compared to his action portfolio.
While Invasion marks the first time Kinberg has had unfettered control of an entire production as director, writer, executive producer, and creator simultaneously, it cannot be said that series like Invasion was ever on the cards for Kinberg. Whether for film or TV, the filmmaker's previous works tend to heavily rely on glamorous, CGI-driven fight sequences that prop up weaker narrative structures. 2008's Jumper is a prime example here, with Kinberg writing and producing a film that's core premise is spontaneous human teleportation. Yet despite this jarring storyline, Jumper translates a thoroughly enjoyable superhero-esque film, with the mesmerizing CGI and teleportation-based fight sequences from returning leading man Hayden Christensen more than carrying an otherwise flimsy plot.
What makes Invasion such a refreshing offering, then, is that the Apple TV+ series seemingly goes against every instinct Simon Kinberg has previously had as a director or producer. Invasion is very much a slow burn of a show, with a pervading sense of dread only punctuated by brief alien glimpses even six episodes in. Invasion relies on gratuitous exposition, making audiences root for its key characters, with no real action to speak of to date outside of the episode "Home Invasion."
Invasion, therefore, is certainly revealing a new side to Simon Kinberg, who has undeniably helmed this project from start to finish. The Kinberg seen in the X-Men franchise has seemingly deserted the Apple TV+ original to create a finely poised, pressure cooker of a show. Invasion may not be the rip-roaring, superpowered offering that Kinberg fans are used to, but Apple TV+'s Invasion is an undeniably unique viewing experience that has been delivered out of left-field by its co-creator.