The first series in the franchise to have an African-American and a woman as its marquee player, NatGeo’s Genius: Aretha is, like the title of its opening episode and the Queen of Soul herself, all about “Respect.”
Penned by Pulitzer Prize winner Suzan-Lori Parks, the pandemic-delayed premiere picks up with the Cynthia Erivo-portrayed Aretha Franklin performing a rousing rendition of “Chain of Fools” at triumphant 1967 show in Chicago before shifting the action to 1954 and the dangerous routes of rural Alabama. With threats and violence in the Jim Crow mists, we meet the pre-superstar Little Re (Shaian Jordan) and her preacher father Cl Franklin (Courtney B. Vance) with a flat tire and two racists breathing down their sweaty necks.
The script for the opener of the eight-episode Genius: Aretha (read it below) is the latest installment of Deadline’s It Starts On the Page, a series that highlights the...
Penned by Pulitzer Prize winner Suzan-Lori Parks, the pandemic-delayed premiere picks up with the Cynthia Erivo-portrayed Aretha Franklin performing a rousing rendition of “Chain of Fools” at triumphant 1967 show in Chicago before shifting the action to 1954 and the dangerous routes of rural Alabama. With threats and violence in the Jim Crow mists, we meet the pre-superstar Little Re (Shaian Jordan) and her preacher father Cl Franklin (Courtney B. Vance) with a flat tire and two racists breathing down their sweaty necks.
The script for the opener of the eight-episode Genius: Aretha (read it below) is the latest installment of Deadline’s It Starts On the Page, a series that highlights the...
- 6/28/2021
- by Dominic Patten
- Deadline Film + TV
Similar News
Radio Silence Talk ‘Abigail,’ Their ‘Scream’ Exit and Trying to Make ‘The Shining’ Elevators Jealous
- 4/19/2024
- by Brian Davids
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Vashon Island Film Festival Sets Date for Third Event – Film News in Brief
- 4/19/2024
- by Selena Kuznikov and Jack Dunn
- Variety Film + TV
Formula 1 Driver James Hunt Subject Of Feature Doc From Deep Fusion Films
- 4/19/2024
- by Jesse Whittock
- Deadline Film + TV
Joe Hall Named President and CEO of Manhattan Neighborhood Network
- 4/21/2024
- by Brent Lang
- Variety Film + TV
Miky Lee To Deliver USC School Of Cinematic Arts Commencement Address
- 4/17/2024
- by Armando Tinoco
- Deadline Film + TV
Breakthrough Prize Ceremony: Elon Musk, Bill Gates and Rupert Murdoch Join Army of Hollywood A-Listers at ‘Oscars of Science’
- 4/14/2024
- by Scott Feinberg
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
“Promoting sexuality instead of great music talent”: Doja Cat’s ‘Wet Vag**a’ Performance Has Gone Viral for All the Wrong Reasons
- 4/23/2024
- by Sreshtha Roychowdhury
- FandomWire
Tribeca Film Fest to Screen Movies Featuring Jenna Ortega, Lily Gladstone, and Jelly Roll
- 4/17/2024
- by Kory Grow
- Rollingstone.com
Tribeca Festival Unveils 2024 Film Slate With Kristen Stewart, Jenna Ortega World Premieres, Trey Parker & Matt Stone Doc, More
- 4/17/2024
- by Jill Goldsmith
- Deadline Film + TV
IMDb.com, Inc. takes no responsibility for the content or accuracy of the above news articles, Tweets, or blog posts. This content is published for the entertainment of our users only. The news articles, Tweets, and blog posts do not represent IMDb's opinions nor can we guarantee that the reporting therein is completely factual. Please visit the source responsible for the item in question to report any concerns you may have regarding content or accuracy.
More to explore
‘Wednesday’ Season 2 Casts Thandiwe Newton (Exclusive)
- 4/23/2024
- by Joe Otterson
- Variety - TV News
Terry Carter, ‘Battlestar Galactica’ and ‘McCloud’ Actor, Dies at 95
- 4/23/2024
- by Lexi Carson
- Variety - Film News
‘Deadpool and Wolverine’ Trailer: Hugh Jackman and Ryan Reynolds Fight to the F—ing Death in Raunchy MCU Debut
- 4/22/2024
- by Diego Ramos Bechara
- Variety - Film News
Netflix to Present Sneak Peek of New Wallace & Gromit, Zack Snyder’s ‘Twilight of the Gods’ at Annecy
- 4/22/2024
- by Scott Roxborough
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
‘Lord of the Rings’ Owner Embracer to Separate Into Three Standalone Publicly Listed Entities
- 4/22/2024
- by Naman Ramachandran and K.J. Yossman
- Variety - Film News
Meg Bennett, Soap Opera Actress and Writer, Dies at 75
- 4/21/2024
- by Mike Barnes
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Chuwi Is the Voice of a New Puerto Rican Generation
- 4/23/2024
- by Juan Arroyo
- Popsugar.com
Camila Mendes on Why We Need More Latine Representation in Rom-Coms
- 4/22/2024
- by Brenda Barrientos
- Popsugar.com
Saraciea Fennell: "The Black Girl Survives in This One" Is the Representation I Didn't See in Horror Books
- 4/22/2024
- by Saraciea Fennell
- Popsugar.com
Tell Me Más: Bodine Talks New Album "Quemo Lento" and Growing From Hardships
- 4/22/2024
- by Juan Arroyo
- Popsugar.com
Tarantino’s ‘The Movie Critic’ Could Have Included Olivia Wilde & David Krumholtz, But Probably Not Tom Cruise
- 4/23/2024
- by Rodrigo Perez
- The Playlist
2 Crew Members Hospitalized in Accident on Set of Eddie Murphy Film ‘The Pickup’ for Amazon MGM
- 4/23/2024
- by Brian Welk
- Indiewire
Jerry Seinfeld Calls ‘Mad Men’ Finale the ‘Greatest Final Moment of a Series I’ve Ever Seen’
- 4/23/2024
- by Samantha Bergeson and Tony Maglio
- Indiewire
The ‘Shogun’ Finale Made It Clear Whose Story the Show Has Been Telling
- 4/23/2024
- by Sarah Shachat
- Indiewire
‘Humane’ Review: Caitlin Cronenberg’s Directorial Debut Is a Sharp but Slight Thriller About a Rich Family Forced to Sacrifice One of Their Own
- 4/23/2024
- by David Ehrlich
- Indiewire
‘Deadpool and Wolverine’ Trailer: Hugh Jackman and Ryan Reynolds Fight to the F—ing Death in Raunchy MCU Debut
- 4/22/2024
- by Diego Ramos Bechara
- Variety - Film News
Tarantino’s ‘The Movie Critic’ Could Have Included Olivia Wilde & David Krumholtz, But Probably Not Tom Cruise
- 4/23/2024
- by Rodrigo Perez
- The Playlist
2 Crew Members Hospitalized in Accident on Set of Eddie Murphy Film ‘The Pickup’ for Amazon MGM
- 4/23/2024
- by Brian Welk
- Indiewire
Netflix Is Set To Serve Up The Ultimate Tom Brady Roast
- 4/23/2024
- by Sandy Schaefer
- Slash Film
Jerry Seinfeld Calls ‘Mad Men’ Finale the ‘Greatest Final Moment of a Series I’ve Ever Seen’
- 4/23/2024
- by Samantha Bergeson and Tony Maglio
- Indiewire
‘Wednesday’ Season 2 Casts Thandiwe Newton (Exclusive)
- 4/23/2024
- by Joe Otterson
- Variety - TV News
Terry Carter, ‘Battlestar Galactica’ and ‘McCloud’ Actor, Dies at 95
- 4/23/2024
- by Lexi Carson
- Variety - Film News
Netflix to Present Sneak Peek of New Wallace & Gromit, Zack Snyder’s ‘Twilight of the Gods’ at Annecy
- 4/22/2024
- by Scott Roxborough
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Neuromancer: Callum Turner to Lead Apple’s Series Adaptation of Sci-Fi Classic
- 4/23/2024
- by Rebecca Iannucci
- TVLine.com
‘Wednesday’ Season 2: Everything We Know So Far
- 4/23/2024
- TV Insider