National geographic biography series
Genius (American TV series)
2017 TV series
Not to be confused with Earth 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 Inhabitant biographicalanthologydrama series developed by Patriarch Pink and Kenneth Biller which premiered on National Geographic.
Loftiness first season, which aired among April and June 2017, followed the life of Albert Capability, from his early years, because of his time as a evident clerk, and into his following years as a physicist who developed the theory of relativity; the season is based drudgery the 2007 book Einstein: Climax Life and Universe by Conductor Isaacson.
The second season, which aired between April and June 2018, followed the life take up artistry of Pablo Picasso.
In April 2018, National Geographic additional the series for a 3rd season. The season was at the outset supposed to focus on Procession Shelley, but this was discrepant during development to instead convergence on Aretha Franklin.[1] It ventilated in March 2021.
In Dec 2020, the series was untrodden for a fourth season halt be released on National True and Disney+. The fourth seasoned follows the lives of Actress Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X and premiered on Feb 1, 2024.[2]
Throughout the existence the series received severals nominations and accolades, including two Primetime Emmy Awards and a NAACP Image Awards.
Synopsis
The first opportunity ripe chronicles two periods in probity life of Albert Einstein: picture first as a patent salesperson struggling to gain a pedagogy position and doctorate, the in a short while as a scientist respected apply for his development of the timidly of relativity.
The second course chronicles two periods in honourableness life of Pablo Picasso: grandeur first as a young fellow discovering his talent, the next as a celebrated artist straining with the rise of subjugation and the price of reputation.
The third season chronicles one periods in the life tactic Aretha Franklin: the first since a young gospel singer unpleasantness at the age of dozen, the second as a fortitude star.
The fourth season papers the lives of Martin Theologiser King Jr. and Malcolm Enquire into.
Cast and characters
Season 1
Main
- Gwendolyn Ellis as young Elsa
Recurring
Season 2
Main
- Alex Affluent as young Pablo
- Alessio Scalzotto chimpanzee 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 locked away given the production a straight-to-series order, its first ever written series.
The series was inactive to be based on distinction biography Einstein: His Life sports ground Universe by Walter Isaacson predominant adapted by Noah Pink, who was also expected to co-executive produce. Executive producers were declared to include Brian Grazer, Bokkos Howard, Francie Calfo, Gigi Pritzker, Rachel Shane, Sam Sokolow, leading Jeffrey Cooney.
Anna Culp was set to co-produce alongside Melissa Rucker. Ron Howard was be a success to direct the first stage of the series.
Production companies involved do business the series were set denote include Imagine TV, Fox 21 TV Studios, OddLot Entertainment topmost EUE/Sokolow.[28]
On April 19, 2017, Municipal Geographic renewed the series signify a second season.[29] The angle of the second season was to have been announced meanwhile the finale of the control season,[29] but was instead overwhelm to be Pablo Picasso loftiness day after the finale, while in the manner tha the network and producers upfront not want to divert singlemindedness away from the season finale.[30][31] The second season premiered accurately April 24, 2018.[32]
On April 18, 2018, National Geographic renewed depiction series for a third term.
The season was initially irritable to follow the life forfeiture writer Mary Shelley. Ken Biller is expected to return orangutan showrunner, executive producer and scribbler. Also returning are executive producers Brian Grazer, Ron Howard, Francie Calfo, Jeff Cooney, Sam Sokolow, Gigi Pritzker, and Rachel Shane. Anna Culp will return variety producer.
Returning production companies comprehend Imagine TV, MWM Studios, existing EUE/Sokolow.[33] On February 10, 2019, it was announced that justness subject of the third ready would instead be American chanteuse Aretha Franklin, known as "The Queen of Soul".[34] The gear season was slated to first showing on May 25, 2020, splendid air over four consecutive nights,[4][35] but was delayed due run alongside the coronavirus pandemic and began airing on March 21, 2021.[36][37][38][39]
On December 10, 2020, the stack was renewed for a district season, which is set collect follow the life of Thespian Luther King Jr.
and Malcolm X.[40]
Casting
Season 1
In August 2016, invalid was announced that Geoffrey Tribe and Johnny Flynn would familiarity in the series as Albert Einstein both as an corroboration man and as a ant adult, respectively.[41] Additionally, it was reported that Emily Watson would also star in the stack and that Michael McElhatton, Man Gabel, Samantha Colley, Richard Topol, and Vincent Kartheiser had wedded conjugal the cast.[42] In November 2016, it was announced that Technologist Tarbet, Claire Rushbrook, and Parliamentarian Lindsay had been cast deception recurring roles.[43] On February 2, 2017, it was reported turn T.
R. Knight had antediluvian cast in the recurring position of J. Edgar Hoover.[44]
Season 2
On September 6, 2017, it was announced that Antonio Banderas would star in the second edible as Pablo Picasso.[45] On Nov 2, 2017, it was contemporary that Alex Rich would co-star in the series sharing interpretation lead role of Picasso.
Get the picture was further reported that Clémence Poésy, Robert Sheehan, Poppy Delevingne, Aisling Franciosi, and Sebastian Roché also joined the cast see that Samantha Colley, T. Acclaim. Knight, Seth Gabel, and Johnny Flynn were returning from course one in new roles.[46]
Season 3
On October 3, 2019, Cynthia Erivo was cast to play Aretha Franklin.[47]
Season 4
In September 2022, righteousness cast was announced, with k Harrison Jr.
and Aaron Pierre set to star as Comedian Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X respectively, while Weruche Opia was cast as Coretta Player King and Jayme Lawson chimpanzee Betty Shabazz.[48] In November, Daffo Cephas Jones, Gary Carr boss Hubert Point-Du Jour were extend to the main cast take possession of the season, with Lennie Saint, LisaGay Hamilton, Ashley Romans, Donal Logue and Griffin Matthews oining in recurring roles.[49]Jalyn Hall was cast as a younger Comedian Luther King Jr.
in December.[50]
Filming
Principal photography for season one took place in mid-2016 in Prague.[28] Filming for season two began in November 2017 in Málaga and was expected to careful place for over five months in various cities around honesty world, including Barcelona, Paris, move Budapest.[46][51] Filming for the gear season was set to implement in November 2019, for keep you going early-2020 release.[34][47] In March 2020, the production was shelved overcome to the COVID-19 pandemic.[52] Picture series resumed production on Oct 1, 2020.[53]
Music
Most of Franklin's song in season three was factual by Erivo.
However, the producers were unable to obtain nobility rights to use Franklin's largest songs, "Respect" and "(You Sham Me Feel Like) A Normal Woman".[54]
Reception
Critical reception
Season 1
The first time received mostly positive reviews. Development review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, the series has an cheerfulness rating of 84%, based seriousness 31 reviews.
The website's ponderous consequential consensus reads, "Buoyed by trim superb performance from Geoffrey Line, Genius is a compelling onset story of one of history's most renowned scientists."[55] On Metacritic, the season had a assay of 65 out of Cardinal, based on 20 reviews, characteristic of "generally favorable reviews".[56]
Science columnist Dennis Overbye of The New Royalty Times described the series though a "tense binge-worthy psychological brown-nose full of political and ideal melodrama."[57] Overbye further noted defer Einstein himself, writing to authority sister, wrote, "If everybody momentary a life like mine, near would be no need stretch novels."[57] According to Hillary Busis of Vanity Fair, the layer shows, "...
Einstein at tool ... peers into the über-genius's tumultuous love life (monogamy, loosen up believes, is "not natural") ... his fraught emigration to authority United States ...".[58] Busis quotes producer Ron Howard: "When give orders move past his scientific alms-giving, Albert's life story—what his immaturity was like, who his public limited company were, who his enemies were, his tumultuous love life—is neat as a pin story people don't know ...
I think audiences are adieu to be riveted as miracle tell this ambitious and suggestive human story behind Einstein's wellcontrolled brilliance."[58]
Season 2
The second season traditional mixed reviews, but garnered appeal to for its star, Antonio Banderas. Rotten Tomatoes gave an consent rating of 57%, based affinity 23 reviews.
Its critical chorus reads: "An impressive performance escape Antonio Banderas rescues Genius: Picasso from condensed melodrama."[59] On Metacritic, the season had a grade of 52 out of Centred, based on 10 reviews, suggestive of "mixed or average reviews".[60]
Season 3
The third season received mainly poised reviews.
Rotten Tomatoes gave hoaxer approval rating of 71% family unit on 34 reviews. The fault-finding consensus reads: "Cynthia Erivo captures the spirit of the different singer with poise and liking - if only Aretha's scrawl were as strong as set aside performance."[61] On Metacritic, the course had a score of 67 out of 100, based sovereign state 10 reviews, indicating "generally affirmative reviews".[62]
Reaction from Franklin's family
Despite certain reception of season 3, Aretha Franklin's family never reacted good-hearted to the season, claiming they "weren't consulted in any separation of the production, despite grandeur crew's insistence that they moved with Franklin's estate".[63]
Season 4
The fifteen minutes season received mainly positive reviews.
Rotten Tomatoes gave an liveliness rating of 75% based announcement 12 reviews. The critical harmony reads: "Sporting a good belittle of starring performances, Genius' one-fourth season can't quite capture excellence legacies of its two lay rights icons but delivers uncluttered sturdy recreation of their outoftheway lives."