Nat Geo Goes Straight to Series with First Scripted Show

WASHINGTON, D.C.: National Geographic Channel has slated its first scripted series, the anthology Genius, with Ron Howard on board to direct the premiere episode.

The show, which has been given a straight-to-series order, comes from Fox 21 Television Studios (Homeland, The People v. O.J. Simpson), Imagine Television (24, Empire), OddLot Entertainment and EUE/Sokolow. Each season of the anthology will dramatize the stories of the world’s most brilliant innovators. Season one will focus on scientist Albert Einstein and will be based on Walter Isaacson’s book Einstein: His Life and Universe, adapted by writer Noah Pink. Production is expected to begin this summer in Prague, and the series will premiere on Nat Geo next spring, in 171 countries and 45 languages.

“Genius is perfectly emblematic of our vision to create premium, distinctive and highly entertaining content that fits the National Geographic brand,” said Courteney Monroe, National Geographic Channels’s CEO. “We are thrilled to be partnering with the exceptional teams at FOX 21 TVS, Imagine Television and OddLot to tell rich, provocative and powerful stories that celebrate human ingenuity.”

“We couldn’t be happier to be working with Imagine and OddLot to bring our spirit of creative adventure and passion for great storytelling to Nat Geo as they embark on their first scripted series. And to have Ron direct the first episode is incredibly exciting,” commented Bert Salke, the president of FOX 21 Television Studios. “Genius is a franchise with infinite possibilities. We think this installment that tells the fascinating backstory of the man who articulated the theory of relativity is just the beginning of a long and successful partnership between our companies.”

“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,” said Howard, who will executive produce on behalf of Imagine Television. “I hope that his story, as well as those of other geniuses, will both entertain and inspire the next generation of Einsteins.”

“We have been patient in our search for the perfect partners to help bring Walter Isaacson’s incredible book on Einstein to life in a unique, thought-provoking and entertaining way,” added Gigi Pritzker, executive producer for OddLot. “After cultivating the project for many years, we are ecstatic that Genius will be OddLot’s first foray into television and that this remarkable story will be realized with Ron Howard at the helm and with the support of our great partners at Nat Geo, FOX 21 TVS, Imagine and EUE/Sokolow.”