MORE NEWS – National Geographic’s biographical series “Genius” continues with a new season. For the first time in the history of the Emmy Award-winning series, it focuses on not one, but two legendary geniuses, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and Malcolm X, and their vastly different, even rival philosophies that played an inescapable role in the success of the American civil rights movement. The first two parts of the eight-episode series will air on National Geographic on 3 February at 21:00 and 22:00, followed by a new episode every Saturday.

The series traces the lives of Martin Luther King, Jr. and Malcolm X from their early years, for both of them in the shadow of stern fathers and deeply wounding injustices, to their discovery of identity and their fulfillment as civil rights activists, becoming the drivers of social change they longed for. The stories of the two figures are broadly parallel, but their childhood and youthful experiences are starkly different. While King graduated from Boston University and found his voice, Malcolm X was socialised in the violent world of the clans, spent time in prison for his criminal lifestyle and eventually found his purpose in life under the influence of the religious-political organisation Islamic Nation. The two civil rights fighters, with very different roots, eventually became the founders of the same movement.

“Genius: Martin Luther King, Jr. and Malcolm X” also introduces the two iconic figures as private individuals (husband, father, brother and son), giving us a close look at their wives, Coretta Scott King and Betty Shabazz. They are often portrayed as insignificant supporting characters, but this is far from the truth, as the series shows: Coretta and Betty were important figures in the movement, on a par with the Kings. The episodes also show the periods between the great historic acts and events, with the characters’ struggles, doubts and difficult choices, alongside the way in which King and Malcolm X constantly balanced public and private roles. Although the two geniuses met in person only once and often criticised each other’s views, neither could have succeeded without the other.

As in previous seasons, this season was produced by 20th Television in association with Imagine Television (Brian Grazer, Ron Howard, Kristen Zolner). Creators include the award-winning duo from Undisputed Cinema, Reggie Rock Bythewood (“Swagger”, “Fateful Shot”) and Gina Prince-Bythewood (“The Woman King”, “Fateful Shot”), as well as showrunners and executive producers Raphael Jackson Jr. and Damione Macedon (“Power”, “The Mosquito Coast”).

Ambassador Shabazz (producer, writer, diplomat, eldest daughter of Dr. Betty Shabazz and Malcolm X Shabazz) served as an outside producer on the series. A team of distinguished historians and experts, including Jamal Joseph (“Panther Baby: A Life of Rebellion and Reinvention”), Peniel E. Joseph (author of “The Sword and The Shield: The Revolutionary Lives of Malcolm X and Martin Luther King Jr.” and one of the executive producers of the series), Jeanne Theoharis (professor of political science at the City University of New York) and Michael A. Walrond Jr. (pastor of First Corinthian Baptist Church).

The seasons of the GENIUS series feature the stories of brilliant innovators and creators, exploring not only their artistic, scientific or even political achievements, but also their volatile, passionate and complex personal relationships. The first season – launched by National Geographic in 2017 – featured the life of Albert Einstein, starring Geoffrey Rush. GENIUS: EINSTEIN has been nominated for an Emmy in ten categories, as well as Golden Globe® and SAG nominations, courtesy of Geoffrey Rush. The next season, GENIUS: PICASSO, starring Antonio Banderas, largely repeated the success of its predecessor, with seven Emmy nominations, two of which it won, and Golden Globe® and SAG nominations, thanks to Banderas. The third installment, GENIUS: ARETHA, starring Cynthia Erivo, was the most-watched show on National Geographic for the past two years, and earned Emmy, Critics Choice and Golden Globe nominations for her portrayal of the Queen of Soul.

Source: Disney Plus