Genius: Aretha is set to start filming again in Atlanta on October 1st, according to Deadline. The cast and crew have already arrived in Georgia for the National Geographic series.
The series it the third installment in a National Geographic anthology series. The first two were about Albert Einstein and Pablo Picasso. Genuis: Aretha is the first and only authorized scripted series of the life of Aretha Franklin.
Production began in December 2019 with Cynthia Erivo (Harriet) starring as the Queen of Soul. Other members of the cast include Courtney B. Vance (Law & Order: Criminal Intent), Malcolm Barrett (Preacher), Patrice Covington (The Color Purple Revival), Kimberly Hébert Gregory (Vice Principals), Rebecca Naomi Jones (Someone Great), Shaian Jordan (Genius), Marque Richardson (Dear White People), Paulette Washington (Wilma), Steven Norfleet (Watchmen), and Omar J. Dorsey (Selma). Anthony Hemingway (Red Tails) serves as executive producer and director.
The series had filmed five and a half episodes out of eight before having to shut down production due to the coronoavirus pandemic. The limited series was supposed to premiere on May 25th but Nat Geo has pushed back the date for sometime later this year. Though a date has not been determined yet, the premiere will likely be before the Franklin biopic Respect, starring Jennifer Hudson (Dreamgirls), that will be coming out January 15th.
The Genius Twitter account posted a trailer for the limited series about the Queen of Soul.