Disney has released a new behind-the-scenes look at the upcoming limited series from National Geographic, “Genius MLK/X”, which is the latest instalment in the “Genius” franchise, which has previously looked at the lives of Pablo Picasso, Aretha Franklin and Albert Einstein. The new show will for the first time in the franchise, focuses on two iconic geniuses: Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. (Kelvin Harrison Jr.) and Malcolm X (Aaron Pierre).

The series follows “both King and X from their formative years, where they were molded by strong fathers and traumatic injustices, to their rich, parallel stories as they shaped their identities and became the change they wished to see in the world. Influenced as children by different upbringings and experiences: King by the Jim Crow-era South and life in the church before finding his voice at Morehouse and Boston University, and X growing up under the constant, deadly violence of the Klan and falling into a life of vice and incarceration where he was introduced to the Nation of Islam and found his voice. The two visionaries ultimately rose to pioneer a movement.

Check out the first look video below:

The series also stars Weruche Opia (“I May Destroy You”) as Coretta Scott King, Ron Cephas Jones (“This is Us”), and Jayme Lawson (“The Batman”) as Betty Shabazz.

“Genius” is produced by 20th Television with Raphael Jackson Jr. and Damione Macedon are co-showrunners and executive producers. Reggie Rock Bythewood and Gina Prince-Bythewood served as executive producers via Undisputed Cinema along with Francie Calfo. For Imagine Television, Brian Grazer, Ron Howard and Kristen Zolner are executive producers. For Madison Wells, Gigi Pritzker and Rachel Shane serve as executive producers. For EUE/Sokolow, Sam Sokolow is executive producer. Jeff Stetson (“The Meeting”) penned the pilot and is executive producer. Channing Godfrey Peoples (“Miss Juneteenth”) directed the pilot episode and also served as co-executive producer. Ambassador Shabazz, the daughter of Malcolm X Shabazz and Dr. Betty Shabazz, served as a consulting producer.

The first two episodes of this new limited series premieres in the United States on February 1st 2024 on the National Geographic channel and it will be available the next day on Disney+ and Hulu on February 2nd 2024. Two episodes will then drop weekly across all the platforms.

The previous three seasons of “Genius” are available to stream now on Disney+ in many countries around the world including the United Kingdom, Australia, and Canada.

Are you looking forward to watching “Genius MLK/X”? Let us know on social media!

Roger Palmer

Roger has been a Disney fan since he was a kid and this interest has grown over the years. He has visited Disney Parks around the globe and has a vast collection of Disney movies and collectibles. He is the owner of What's On Disney Plus & DisKingdom. Email: Roger@WhatsOnDisneyPlus.com Twitter: Twitter.com/RogPalmerUK Facebook: Facebook.com/rogpalmeruk

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