Genius has not even premiered, and already National Geographic is renewing the series for a second season. According to Deadline, the series will return for a second season. Based on Walter Isaacson’s book Einstein: His Life And Universe, covers Einstein’s ascent from unappreciated intellectual to globally admired genius.
The 10-part series stars Academy Award-winning actor Geoffrey Rush (Pirates of the Caribbean, The King’s Speech, Shakespeare in Love) as the iconic genius. Johnny Flynn plays a younger version of Einstein, while Academy Award-nominated actress Emily Watson portrays Einstein’s second wife/first cousin Elsa Einstein. As the season progresses we see a man who was unable to obtain a teaching job or doctorate as a young man, to a world renowned scholar who invented the theory of relativity. The cast filmed the first season in Prague, given the Czech Republic’s generous 20 percent film incentives.
Genius is the first scripted series ever produced by National Geographic. During the upfronts in NYC, National Geographic made the announcement to advertisers and media in attendance, saying that the subject of Season 2 will be revealed in the Season 1 finale, set to air June 20.
Genius is produced by Ron Howard’s Imagine Entertainment, Fox 21 Studios and OddLot Entertainment. The showrunner is Ken Biller (Smallville, Legends), who will be continuing that role for the second season.
Courteney Monroe, CEO of National Geographic Global Networks, said the following in regards to the second season renewal:
We are thrilled to bring back Genius for a second season and establish National Geographic’s presence in scripted television. The Genius franchise has proved to be the epitome of the premium, smart and highly entertaining content that our brand embodies and our audience craves.
When the series was first announced a year ago, Ron Howard said the following regarding the series, according to an article in Variety:
Having already worked with National Geographic on Breakthrough and currently in production on Mars— our exciting unscripted and scripted hybrid series that tells of our journey to colonize Mars — I look forward to their support as we tell this ambitious but intimate and revealing human story behind Einstein’s scientific brilliance. I hope that his story, as well as those of other geniuses, will both entertain and inspire the next generation of Einsteins.
The first season of Genius is premiering today at Tribeca Film Festival, and will air the first episode on National Geographic channel on Tuesday April 25th, 9/8c.