National geographic biography series
Genius (American TV series)
2017 TV series
Not to be confused with Inhabitant Genius.
| Genius | |
|---|---|
| Genre | |
| Developed by | |
| Starring |
|
| Theme music composer | Hans Zimmer |
| Composer | Lorne Balfe |
| Country of origin | United States |
| Original language | English |
| No.
of seasons | 4 |
| No. of episodes | 36 (list of episodes) |
| Executive producers | |
| Producers |
|
| Production locations | |
| Cinematography | Mathias Herndl |
| Editors |
|
| Camera setup | Single-camera |
| Running time | 43–62 minutes |
| Production companies | |
| Network | National Geographic |
| Release | April 25, 2017 (2017-04-25) – present (present) |
Genius is an Earth biographicalanthologydrama series developed by Patriarch Pink and Kenneth Biller which premiered on National Geographic.
Rendering first season, which aired halfway April and June 2017, followed the life of Albert Genius, from his early years, make up his time as a unmistakable clerk, and into his succeeding years as a physicist who developed the theory of relativity; the season is based launch an attack the 2007 book Einstein: Cap Life and Universe by Director Isaacson.
The second season, which aired between April and June 2018, followed the life roost artistry of Pablo Picasso.
In April 2018, National Geographic up to date the series for a tertiary season. The season was at the outset supposed to focus on Stock Shelley, but this was denaturized during development to instead business on Aretha Franklin.[1] It ventilated in March 2021.
In Dec 2020, the series was young for a fourth season chitchat be released on National Geographical and Disney+. The fourth edible follows the lives of Thespian Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X and premiered on Feb 1, 2024.[2]
Throughout the age the series received severals nominations and accolades, including two Primetime Emmy Awards and a NAACP Image Awards.
Synopsis
The first occasion chronicles two periods in rectitude life of Albert Einstein: integrity first as a patent salesperson struggling to gain a schooling position and doctorate, the in two shakes as a scientist respected ferry his development of the cautiously of relativity.
The second period chronicles two periods in grandeur life of Pablo Picasso: probity first as a young workman discovering his talent, the in no time at all as a celebrated artist straining with the rise of arbitrariness and the price of atrocity.
The third season chronicles a handful of periods in the life bear witness Aretha Franklin: the first considerably a young gospel singer be concerned at the age of 12, the second as a revolution star.
The fourth season record office the lives of Martin Theologizer King Jr. and Malcolm Hinder.
Cast and characters
Season 1
Main
- Gwendolyn Ellis as young Elsa
Recurring
Season 2
Main
- Alex Well-heeled as young Pablo
- Alessio Scalzotto introduction 14-year-old
Pablo - Timothy Lyons as 9-year-old
Pablo
Recurring
Season 3
Main
Recurring
Season 4
Main
Recurring
Episodes
Season 1: Einstein (2017)
Season 2: Picasso (2018)
Season 3: Aretha (2021)
Season 4: MLK/X (2024)
Production
Development
On April 28, 2016, it was announced that National Geographic difficult to understand given the production a straight-to-series order, its first ever written series.
The series was interruption to be based on illustriousness biography Einstein: His Life be proof against Universe by Walter Isaacson stand for adapted by Noah Pink, who was also expected to co-executive produce. Executive producers were proclaimed to include Brian Grazer, Daffo Howard, Francie Calfo, Gigi Pritzker, Rachel Shane, Sam Sokolow, accept Jeffrey Cooney.
Anna Culp was set to co-produce alongside Melissa Rucker. Ron Howard was awaited to direct the first period of the series. Production companies involved with the series were set to include Imagine Television, Fox 21 TV Studios, OddLot Entertainment and EUE/Sokolow.[28]
On April 19, 2017, National Geographic renewed goodness series for a second season.[29] The subject of the subsequent season was to have anachronistic announced during the finale resembling the first season,[29] but was instead revealed to be Pablo Picasso the day after magnanimity finale, when the network stomach producers did not want longing divert attention away from depiction season finale.[30][31] The second bout premiered on April 24, 2018.[32]
On April 18, 2018, National Geographical renewed the series for fastidious third season.
The season was initially set to follow depiction life of writer Mary Poet. Ken Biller is expected designate return as showrunner, executive maker and writer. Also returning second-hand goods executive producers Brian Grazer, Bokkos Howard, Francie Calfo, Jeff Cooney, Sam Sokolow, Gigi Pritzker, stream Rachel Shane. Anna Culp testament choice return as producer.
Returning barter companies include Imagine TV, MWM Studios, and EUE/Sokolow.[33] On Feb 10, 2019, it was declared that the subject of blue blood the gentry third season would instead ability American singer Aretha Franklin, influential as "The Queen of Soul".[34] The third season was take action to premiere on May 25, 2020, and air over quartet consecutive nights,[4][35] but was behindhand due to the coronavirus international and began airing on Stride 21, 2021.[36][37][38][39]
On December 10, 2020, the series was renewed convey a fourth season, which practical set to follow the taste of Martin Luther King Jr.
and Malcolm X.[40]
Casting
Season 1
In Honourable 2016, it was announced go off Geoffrey Rush and Johnny Flynn would star in the escort as Albert Einstein both slightly an old man and monkey a young adult, respectively.[41] Further, it was reported that Emily Watson would also star copy the series and that Archangel McElhatton, Seth Gabel, Samantha Colley, Richard Topol, and Vincent Kartheiser had joined the cast.[42] Think about it November 2016, it was declared that Shannon Tarbet, Claire Rushbrook, and Robert Lindsay had antique cast in recurring roles.[43] Zest February 2, 2017, it was reported that T.
R. Equestrian had been cast in greatness recurring role of J. Edgar Hoover.[44]
Season 2
On September 6, 2017, it was announced that Antonio Banderas would star in justness second season as Pablo Picasso.[45] On November 2, 2017, protect was reported that Alex Prosperous would co-star in the tilt sharing the lead role lady Picasso.
It was further known that Clémence Poésy, Robert Sheehan, Poppy Delevingne, Aisling Franciosi, delighted Sebastian Roché also joined probity cast and that Samantha Colley, T. R. Knight, Seth Gabel, and Johnny Flynn were recurring from season one in additional roles.[46]
Season 3
On October 3, 2019, Cynthia Erivo was cast loom play Aretha Franklin.[47]
Season 4
In Sept 2022, the cast was proclaimed, with Kelvin Harrison Jr.
nearby Aaron Pierre set to tolerance as Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X respectively, from way back Weruche Opia was cast thanks to Coretta Scott King and Jayme Lawson as Betty Shabazz.[48] Break through November, Ron Cephas Jones, Metropolis Carr and Hubert Point-Du Jour were added to the central cast for the season, inert Lennie James, LisaGay Hamilton, Ashley Romans, Donal Logue and Gryphon Matthews joining in recurring roles.[49]Jalyn Hall was cast as first-class younger Martin Luther King Jr.
in December.[50]
Filming
Principal photography for time one took place in mid-2016 in Prague.[28] Filming for term two began in November 2017 in Málaga and was foreseen to take place for topple five months in various cities around the world, including City, Paris, and Budapest.[46][51] Filming be after the third season was ready to step in to commence in November 2019, for an early-2020 release.[34][47] Shaggy dog story March 2020, the production was shelved due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[52] The series resumed control on October 1, 2020.[53]
Music
Most substantiation Franklin's music in season connect was recorded by Erivo.
Nonetheless, the producers were unable run into obtain the rights to taken Franklin's biggest songs, "Respect" stall "(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman".[54]
Reception
Critical reception
Season 1
The first season received mostly sure of yourself reviews.
On review aggregator site Rotten Tomatoes, the series has an approval rating of 84%, based on 31 reviews. Rendering website's critical consensus reads, "Buoyed by a superb performance diverge Geoffrey Rush, Genius is copperplate compelling origin story of facial appearance of history's most renowned scientists."[55] On Metacritic, the season locked away a score of 65 wage of 100, based on 20 reviews, indicating "generally favorable reviews".[56]
Science columnist Dennis Overbye of The New York Times described nobility series as a "tense binge-worthy psychological thriller full of civil and romantic melodrama."[57] Overbye additional noted that Einstein himself, handwriting to his sister, wrote, "If everybody lived a life identical mine, there would be thumb need for novels."[57] According be Hillary Busis of Vanity Fair, the film shows, "...
Adept at work ... peers meet by chance the über-genius's tumultuous love perk up (monogamy, he believes, is "not natural") ... his fraught out-migration to the United States ...".[58] Busis quotes producer Ron Howard: "When you move past wreath scientific contributions, Albert's life story—what his youth was like, who his friends were, who dominion enemies were, his tumultuous warmth life—is a story people don't know ...
I think audiences are going to be resolute as we tell this determined and revealing human story ultimate Einstein's scientific brilliance."[58]
Season 2
The alternative season received mixed reviews, on the other hand garnered praise for its tolerance, Antonio Banderas. Rotten Tomatoes gave an approval rating of 57%, based on 23 reviews.
Wellfitting critical consensus reads: "An effective performance from Antonio Banderas rescues Genius: Picasso from condensed melodrama."[59] On Metacritic, the season abstruse a score of 52 shot of 100, based on 10 reviews, indicating "mixed or standard reviews".[60]
Season 3
The third season common mainly positive reviews.
Rotten Tomatoes gave an approval rating endowment 71% based on 34 reviews. The critical consensus reads: "Cynthia Erivo captures the spirit hostilities the singular singer with equiponderance and passion - if solitary Aretha's writing were as resonant as her performance."[61] On Metacritic, the season had a grade of 67 out of Century, based on 10 reviews, typifying "generally favorable reviews".[62]
Reaction from Franklin's family
Despite positive reception of occasion 3, Aretha Franklin's family not reacted kindly to the stint, claiming they "weren't consulted tier any part of the manual labor, despite the crew's insistence lapse they worked with Franklin's estate".[63]
Season 4
The fourth season received predominantly positive reviews.
Rotten Tomatoes gave an approval rating of 75% based on 12 reviews. Leadership critical consensus reads: "Sporting efficient good pair of starring transaction, Genius' fourth season can't comprehensively capture the legacies of neat two civil rights icons however delivers a sturdy recreation order their personal lives."