National Geographic is getting into the scripted series game with Genius, an anthology show that will detail the wold’s greatest innovators in season-long arcs before moving onto a new subject each year. The network has now nabbed director Ron Howard to helm the pilot of Genius, which will focus on the life of Albert Einstein.
The story will be an adaptation of Walter Isaacson’s biography Einstein: His Life and Universe, most of which was based on some of Einstein’s personal letters. Screenwriter Noah Pink says the show will explore Einstein’s “political activism, family life and volatile and complex personal relationships.” Pink will remain a producer, but the network is still searching for a showrunner for the season.
Genius will begin filming this summer, with an estimated premiere sometime next spring. National Geographic refers to the series as a direct continuation of the network’s goals and vision to “create premium, distinctive, and highly entertaining content.”
Genius is perfectly emblematic of our vision to create premium, distinctive and highly entertaining content Natgeo channel that fits the National Geographic brand. We are thrilled to be partnering with the exceptional teams at Fox 21 TVS, Imagine Television and Oddlot to tell rich, provocative and powerful stories that celebrate human ingenuity.
Howard is currently in post-production on Inferno, his third go-around at adapting Dan Brown’s mystery series for the big screen. The anthology potential for Genius sounds pretty promising though, especially for a network without much standout, appointment television content.
Until we get more news on the show, let us know what you think about Genius in the comments section below.