Film & TV NewsCheck Out Cynthia Erivo in the New Teaser Trailer for Nat Geo’s Genius: ArethaOscar nominee and Tony winner Erivo stars as Aretha Franklin in the upcoming limited series.
By
Olivia Clement
February 10, 2020
National Geographic has released a new teaser trailer for its upcoming limited series, Genius: Aretha, in which Tony winner and Oscar nominee Cynthia Erivo stars as the late Aretha Franklin. The series, which drops May 25, is the third in the Genius anthology (following Genius: Einstein and Genius: Picasso).
Check out the teaser trailer above.
Genius: Aretha, as previously announced, will also featureOklahoma!'s Rebecca Naomi Jones and Patrice Covington (who appeared in The Color Purple with Erivo), as Franklin's sisters Carolyn and Erma, respectively. Malcolm Barrett stars as Ted White, Kimberly Hébert Gregory is Ruth Bowen, and Sanai Victoria is young Aretha.
Pulitzer Prize winner Suzan-Lori Parks serves as showrunner for Genius: Aretha and executive produces with Clive Davis and Craig Kallman.
Meanwhile, Respect, a feature film biopic on Franklin, is currently in post-production, with Erivo's The Color Purple co-star Jennifer Hudson playing the singer. Directed by Liesl Tommy, the cast also includes Tony winner Audra McDonald, Saycon Sengbloh, Tituss Burgess, Hailey Kilgore, and Heather Headley.
Jennifer Hudson, Cynthia Erivo and Co. Celebrate New Color Purple Album With Exclusive Listening Party
Jennifer Hudson, Cynthia Erivo and Co. Celebrate New Color Purple Album With Exclusive Listening Party
Take a look at Jennifer Hudson, Cynthia Erivo, Danielle Brooks and the cast The Color Purple revival celebrating the release of their new cast album. Everyone came together for a special listening party Feb. 11 at The W Hotel Times Square.
Starring David Harewood, Toby Jones, Caitlin FitzGerald, Vinette Robinson and Luke Treadaway, the production be screened across the UK, US, Australia and selected international territories.