Martin Luther King Jr. will be profiled in the upcoming fourth season of National Geographic’s “Genius.”
National Geographic exec Courteney Monroe announced the programming move Thursday during the Walt Disney Company’s investor relations day presentation. Monroe also revealed that, beginning with Season 4, “Genius” would be available exclusively on Disney Plus. Seasons 1 and 2 premiered on the National Geographic cable channel and are currently available to stream on Disney Plus. Season 3 is also set to debut on the National Geographic Channel.
Previous seasons of “Genius” have profiled Albert Einstein and Pablo Picasso. The third and upcoming season will see actor Cynthia Erivo playing singer Aretha Franklin.
“Genius: Aretha” is produced by National Geographic, Imagine Television, and Fox 21 Television. Imagine has partnered with Warner Music Entertainment on the season. Along with Parks and Hemingway, executive producers on the season are Imagine’s Brian Grazer and Ron Howard, Francie Calfo, record producer Clive Davis and Atlantic Records Chairman and CEO Craig Kallman, Ken Biller, Gigi Pritzker and Rachel Shane of MWM Studios, Sam Sokolow of EUE/Sokolow, and Diana Son. Imagine’s Anna Culp serves as producer alongside Peter Afterman.
King, the legendary civil rights leader, has been portrayed multiple times in TV and film. Rapper T.I. is set to portray King in the Aretha Franklin season of “Genius.”