According to Variety, Paramount has snagged the rights to make live-action films based on the 90s Valiant Comics series "Harbinger." The article indicates Brett Ratner is in line to direct.

Ratner is a hitmaker, true. "Red Dragon," "Family Man" and the "Rush Hour" franchises all made good money

But the last time he was involved in a comic book picture, it was the wildly uneven "X-Men: The Last Stand," so this will likely not go over well with the core fan base.

That X-movie did huge box office but was considered the weakest of the trilogy, and hardcore fans of Marvel's mutants were not happy.

Created by comics legend Jim Shooter, "Harbinger" revolves around a group of young kids, 'harbingers', with special powers who are being hunted by a corporation run by an older, more powerful 'harbinger.'

The article compares "Harbinger" to "Blade Runner" but I would say it's closer to "X-Men" -- with its themes of paranoia and youngsters feeling like outsiders. And while it never had the mainstream appeal of Spider-Man, Batman or Hulk, "Harbinger's" influence can be seen in modern pop culture hits like NBC's "Heroes."

I'm a big fan of the original "Harbinger" series. I recently re-read the original comics and they hold up well, all these years later. But this shouldn't be approached like most comic book adaptations. The appeal of "Harbinger" was in the character development. I don't know if this has blockbuster potential but it could make for a compelling sci-fi film, more "Gattaca" than "The Matrix."

Nothing in Brett Ratner's filmography indicates he's capable of doing a story-driven movie like that. But who knows? Maybe he'll get a fantastic script to work with and nail it. Whoever directs this, I just hope they don't screw it up.