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Your favorite Seventies rock play is headed overseas. Stereophonic will take on London’s West End in May 2025.

The most Tony-nominated play of all time will wrap its stint at New York’s John Golden Theatre on Sunday, after two extensions, a recoup, and 305 performances in the can. They’ll head to London’s Duke of York’s Theatre in May, though no exact date has been announced.

In the fall, the production will venture to the Pacific Northwest, where it will launch in Seattle at the Paramount Theatre. Additional U.

Exclusive: Stereophonic, David Adjmi’s acclaimed Tony Award-winning play about a Fleetwood Mac-like ’70s rock band, has recouped its Broadway investment and will begin a West End engagement and national U.S. tour later this year, producers said today.

The twice-extended Broadway production is currently playing its final week at the Golden Theatre, where it will end its run Sunday, January 12, after 305 performances. The play made Tony history last spring by becoming Broadway’s most nominated play ever, going on to win five of its 13 nominations: Best Play, Best Director ( Daniel Aukin), Best Featured Actor (Will Brill), Best Scenic Design (David Zinn) and Best Sound Design (Ryan Rumery).

The West End engagement will begin in May 2025 at London’s Duke of York’s Theatre, and a U.S. national tour will launch in Seattle this October. Casting for the productions has not been announced.

The Broadway staging currently stars Benjamin Anthony Anderson,...

Stereophonic, which follows a folk-rock quintet on the brink of blowing up, will extend its Broadway run, producers announced Monday. The production will extend its run through Jan. 12, 2025, which producers called Stereophonic’s final extension.

Cast members Sarah Pidgeon, Juliana Canfield, and Tom Pecinka, who have performed in the musical since the show opened in April, will deliver their final performances on Sept. 29. Amy Forsyth, Rebecca Naomi Jones, and Benjamin Anthony Anderson will take over their respective roles as Diana, Holly, and Peter. The new cast will begin performances Oct.

Stereophonic, David Adjmi’s Tony-winning play, will extend its run through January 12, 2025, a move that producers say is the production’s final extension.

Also today, producers announced that three original cast members – Sarah Pidgeon, Juliana Canfield and Tom Pecinka – will play their final performances on Sunday, September 29, with Amy Forsyth, Rebecca Naomi Jones and Benjamin Anthony Anderson taking over the roles of, respectively, Diana, Holly and Peter.

The new cast members will begin performances at the Golden Theatre on Tuesday, October 1. Anderson currently is Pecinka’s understudy for the role of Peter. Emilie Kouatchou and Denver Milord will join the production as understudies.

Producers Sue Wagner, John Johnson, Seaview, Sonia Friedman Productions, Linden Productions, and Ashley Melone & Nick Mills cited popular demand as the reason for the extension. Stereophonic began Broadway previews on April 1 and opened April 19. The run initially was to have lasted for 14 weeks, but ticket sales, widespread...

Vulture Watch

Is this legend getting the r-e-s-p-e-c-t that she deserves? Has the Genius TV show been cancelled or renewed for a fourth season on National Geographic Channel? The television vulture is watching all the latest cancellation and renewal news, so this page is the place to track the status of Genius, season four. Bookmark it, or subscribe for the latest updates. Remember, the television vulture is watching your shows. Are you?

What's This TV Show About?

Airing on the National Geographic Channel, Genius dramatizes the stories of the world’s most brilliant innovators, their extraordinary achievements and their sometimes volatile, passionate, and complex personal relationships. Season three tells the story of the Queen of Soul, Aretha Franklin, and stars Cynthia Erivo, Courtney B. Vance, Malcolm Barrett, David Cross, Patrice Covington, Rebecca Naomi Jones, Steven Norfleet, Pauletta Washington, Omar J. Dorsey, Marque...

Exclusive: The BBC has told 10 of its most seasoned news anchors that they have lost their prestige presenting roles on the broadcaster’s rolling news channel.

Deadline can reveal that journalists including Jane Hill, Martine Croxall, and Ben Brown were informed yesterday that they will not be among the chief presenters on a relaunched BBC News channel.

The BBC is combining its international and domestic news channels into a single offering as the corporation bids to cut costs and reinvent its output for a digital age.

The merger has been rumbling on for months, but in a single day 10 presenters were effectively told that their services are not required when the merged channel launches around April. Jess Brammar, editor of the news channels, phoned around presenters to deliver the news.

Annita McVeigh, Geeta Guru-Murthy, and Shaun Ley are also among the unlucky presenters. Along with Croxall and Brown, they spend...

Based on the internationally bestselling picture books from Mac Barnett and Jon Klassen, the series features the voice talents of Yvette Nicole Brown, Harvey Guillen, Scott Adsit and Gideon Adlon

Plus, all-new episodes of “Helpsters” season three premiere Friday, January 6 featuring guest stars Andrea Martin, John Oliver, Danielle Brooks, Margaret Cho, Jackie Hoffman and more

Apple TV+ today announced the all-new stop motion series for kids and families, “Shape Island,” featuring the beloved familiar voices of Yvette Nicole Brown (“Disenchanted”), Harvey Guillen (“What We Do in the Shadows”), Scott Adsit (“30 Rock”) and Gideon Adlon (“Blockers”). Based on the internationally bestselling trilogy of Shapes picture books by Mac Barnett and Jon Klassen, “Shape Island” premieres globally Friday, January 20 on Apple TV+.

This clever, funny and inspiring new stop-motion animated series from Apple TV+ takes place on a charming island and invites viewers to join serious Square, intrepid Circle and tricky...

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...

National Geographic’s anthology series “Genius” premiered in 2017 with its first installment about Albert Einstein starring Oscar winner Geoffrey Rush. It went on to receive 10 Emmy nominations including Best Limited Series and lead actor for Rush. It returned in 2018 with a focus on Pablo Picasso and earned another seven bids, once again in the limited series category and for lead actor Antonio Banderas. Now the acclaimed Nat Geo series could three-peat with its latest installment, “Genius: Aretha,” anchored by Emmy, Grammy and Tony winner Cynthia Erivo as the Queen of Soul, Aretha Franklin.

“Genius: Aretha” is the most highly acclaimed and watched season in franchise history. Verne Gray (Newsday) praised its “beautiful production” and “first rate performances, notably the one that counts most – Erivo’s.” Brian Lowry (CNN) said, “Deriving its episodic subtitles from Franklin songs, ‘Genius: Aretha’ is a testament to that hard work. And like the best musical biographies,...

All 22,000 plus voting members of the TV academy have until June 28 to cast their 2021 Emmy Awards nominations ballots for programs. Unlike the Oscars, voters for the Emmys do not rank their choices and nominees are determined by a simple tally. In the past, voters were limited in the number of programs that they could put forth. Four years ago that cap (which was usually 10 per category) was lifted.

While the comedy and drama series ballots have each maintained an average of over 100 entrants in recent years, there have nearly always been fewer than 40 choices in the limited series genre. There are 37 shows on the list this year, which is down by four from last year. There were 35 in 2019, 33 in 2018, and 25 in 2017. Five series from the list below will make the cut and be announced as Emmy nominees on July 13.

See 2021 Emmy nominations ballot: 1,865 performers vie for your consideration (that is...

Nat Geo’s “Genius” brand is a force to be reckoned with at the Emmys, winning two trophies and being nominated for Best Limited Series and Best Actor for its first two installments: “Genius: Einstein” with Geoffrey Rush in 2017 and “Genius: Picasso” with Antonio Banderas in 2018. The latest season to enter the awards derby is “Genius: Aretha,” starring Cynthia Erivo as Aretha Franklin. The eight-episode series aired in March to critical acclaim, with Erivo being praised as “born to play” the legendary Queen of Soul. In Nat Geo’s video clip above, watch Erivo singing “How I Got Over” — yes, she sings her own songs.

The scene is a pivotal moment in the series, as the actress fully steps into Franklin’s shoes for the first time and a star is born before our eyes, both on-screen and off. The moment comes after Franklin has been told yet again that...

Charles doesn’t see much reason to leave his sunny second-floor Brooklyn apartment. Everything can be delivered, he can do his video editing at the desk that’s right next to his kitchen, and after his recent break-up, he’s got little interest in human interaction. What could possibly entice him to leave? In “The Outside Story,” Casimir Nozkowski’s ambling, rambling feature directorial debut, the answer is “bad luck” and “narrative necessity.”

In his first lead role, Brian Tyree Henry brings nuance to Charles, the introverted homebody at the center of Nozkowski’s . Meant to debut at the 2020 Tribeca Film Festival, one of the first major film events to be cancelled last year, Charles’ quest to get out of the house now takes on an unexpected tone. Still, the film is predictable in its revelations: Maybe it’s a good idea to broaden your horizons, even if that just...

The Genius TV series has already been renewed for a fourth season so we don't have to wonder if it will be cancelled this time around. However, the series is moving to Disney+ and it's unknown if season four will eventually air on National Geographic. Could the third season ratings make a difference? Stay tuned.

An anthology series, Genius dramatizes the stories of the world’s most brilliant innovators, their extraordinary achievements and their sometimes volatile, passionate, and complex personal relationships. Season three tells the story of the Queen of Soul, Aretha Franklin, and stars Cynthia Erivo, Courtney B. Vance, Malcolm Barrett, David Cross, Patrice Covington, Rebecca Naomi Jones, Steven Norfleet, Pauletta Washington, Omar J. Dorsey, Marque Richardson, Kimberly Hébert Gregory, and Shaian Jordan. The season follows the musical genius and her incomparable career, as well as the impact and lasting influence she has...

After premiering with two episodes on Sunday, Genius: Aretha continues tonight with two more episodes as the National Geographic anthology tells the tale of Aretha Franklin's life and career.

We have the pleasure of premiering an exclusive clip from Genius: Aretha Season 1 Episode 3, titled "Do Right Woman."

In the clip, Aretha (Cynthia Erivo) attends a protest for the Civil Rights Movement, but all is not as it seems.

The singer, songwriter, actress, pianist, and civil rights activist is shown to be trying to conceal her identity in the scene.

It makes sense. Aretha was well-known for her impressive talents at that point in her life, but she crosses paths with another activist who quickly realizes just who she is.

Aretha wants to help in any way she can and starts by handing out flyers.

Unfortunately, her help is cut short when she is cornered by a man who...

National Geographic’s “Genius: Aretha” had its long-awaited premiere on Sunday, March 21. This life story of Aretha Franklin will unfold with two episodes per night till March 25, which is the birthday of the Queen of Soul. Two-time Oscar nominee Cynthia Erivo portrays this legend of music. And based on the early rave reviews, this Grammy, Tony and Daytime Emmy champ may just add a Primetime Emmy to her growing awards collection.

Erivo is serving looks (costume design nom incoming) and vocals as you can see in the trailer above. It kicks off with the Queen of Soul conceiving “Chain of Fools.” “It’ll get under your skin, right down to the bone,” she says. It’s gonna be whole new vibe that brings people together.”

The series also stars Courtney B. Vance, Malcolm Barrett, David Cross, Patrice Covington, Rebecca Naomi Jones, Steven Norfleet, Pauletta Washington, Omar J. Dorsey, Marque Richardson,...

Among the the music biopic’s many tropes is the inevitable recording-session scene, where we watch a recreation of the artist at work — or, if the subject is a band, see them quarrel and throw drum sticks at each other. Rare, though, are the sequences where you feel as if you’re truly witnessing art emerge — which is precisely what happens about three-quarters of the way through Genius: Aretha, the eight-part mini-series that debuts on the National Geographic channel on March 21st, and will be streaming online next day on Hulu.

Everyone wants concerts to come back. Everyone who attended the premiere event for Nat Geo’s “Genius: Aretha” at the makeshift drive-in in the Rose Bowl parking lot Thursday had a more specific wish: that Cynthia Erivo concerts would come back. Never mind that that really hasn’t much of a thing up till now, with Erivo being too busy with acting gigs to tour. The premiere screening was followed by a taped performance by Erivo, filmed last weekend nearby in an empty Greek Theatre, that made it clear the road and audiences along it will be ready whenever she is.

The end of Erivo’s 20-minute performance met with considerable honking from a car-bound crowd that couldn’t help but momentarily forego the Rose Bowl setting’s rules about laying off the horn. The mini-concert, first revealed in a “Just for Variety” preview, had Erivo arriving on the Greek...

Exclusive: The Nat Geo network is pulling out all the stops for a March 11 world premiere of Genius: Aretha, the latest installment of its anthology series.

The event will be marked by a pre-show of performances, multi-city drive-in screenings, and a finale of Cynthia Erivo performing Aretha Franklin songs taped at the Greek Theater.

The event will include:

Spoken Word by Suzan-Lori Parks, showrunner of Genius: Aretha; Performances by trumpeter Marquis Hillon from the stage of the Apollo Theater, Bill Moss Jr. presents the Detroit Youth All-Star Choir, c-Live & AfroPunk Artists; Performances by Genius: Aretha actresses Antonique Smith, Patrice Covington & Rebecca Naomi Jones; Appearances by Brian Grazer and Courtney B. Vance; The World Premiere screening of Genius: Aretha: An exclusive performance of Aretha classics by Cynthia Erivo taped at the Greek Theater in Los Angeles.

The series will stage its regular network premiere on March 21 on Nat Geo.

Genius Season 3 Trailers — National Geographic‘s Genius: Season 3 TV show trailer has been released. The Genius Season 3 trailers about singer Aretha Franklin star Cynthia Erivo, Courtney B. Vance, David Cross, Malcolm Barrett, Kimberly Hebert Gregory, Patrice Covington, Rebecca Naomi Jones, Tonya Reneé Banks, Stacey Sargeant, and Alex Collins. Crew Anthony [...]

Continue reading: Genius: Season 3 Trailers: Cynthia Erivo Takes Stage as Aretha Franklin in National Geographic’s Anthology TV Series...

In today’s TV news roundup, NBC announced the date of the “Superstore” series finale, and National Geographic set the release date for “Genius: Aretha.”

Dates

NBC’s “Superstore” will end on March 25 with a one-hour series finale at 8 p.m. The workplace comedy, executive produced by Justin Spitzer, Gabe Miller and Jonathan Green, follows the employees of “Cloud 9,” a fictional big-box store in St. Louis, Mo. as they deal with topical issues like immigration, health care, unionization and the struggles of working in retail. The series stars Ben Feldman, Lauren Ash, Colton Dunn, Nico Santos, Nichole Bloom, Kaliko Kauahi and Mark McKinney.

“Genius: Aretha” will debut on National Geographic on March 21 at 9 p.m. The third installment of the “Genius” anthology, which centers on Aretha Franklin (Cynthia Erivo), will run across four consecutive nights. The only authorized scripted series about Franklin, “Genius” tracks the Queen of Soul’s musical brilliance,...

Cynthia Erivo’s long-teased portrayal of Aretha Franklin will finally hit your TV screen in March.

NatGeo has announced a Sunday, March 21 premiere date for Genius: Aretha, with episodes airing at 9 pm and 10 pm. Additionally, two episodes will drop each night for four consecutive nights, culminating with the finale on Wednesday, March 24.

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Erivo, a Tony Award winner and two-time Oscar nominee, stars as Franklin, who began...

After getting delayed nearly a year by Covid-19, National Geographic’s “Genius: Aretha” will premiere Sunday, March 21 at 9/8c, the network announced Tuesday at the Television Critics Association winter press tour. The eight-episode season will air two episodes over four consecutive nights with episodes available the next day on Hulu. All episodes will be available on March 25, Aretha Franklin‘s birthday.

The third season of the anthology series covers the life of Franklin, played by two-time Oscar nominee Cynthia Erivo. And if the trailer, which also dropped Tuesday (watch above), tells us anything, it’s that the Grammy, Tony and Daytime Emmy champ may just add a Primetime Emmy to her collection. Erivo is serving looks (costume design nom incoming) and vocals in the clip, which kicks off with the Queen of Soul conceiving “Chain of Fools.” “It’ll get under your skin, right down to the bone,” she says.

In today’s TV news roundup, Apple TV Plus unveils the trailer for its original thriller “Losing Alice,” and HBO Max sets the premiere date for Wolfgang Puck’s culinary series “The Event.”

Dates

Starz announced that “Men in Kilts: A Roadtrip with Sam and Graham,” an eight-episode docuseries developed by “Outlander” stars Sam Heughan and Graham McTavish, will premiere Feb. 14. The original series is presented as a fun-filled buddy travelogue through Scotland’s terrain, taking viewers on a journey through the country’s rich heritage and traditions. Watch a trailer below.

Nickelodeon set Feb. 12 as the premiere date for its long-anticipated second season debut of “Are You Afraid of the Dark?” Subtitled “Curse of the Shadows” and featuring all-new members of the Midnight Society, the six-episode season will follow the kids as they tell terrifying tales about a curse cast over their seaside town and the villainous Shadowman. The beloved horror anthology series,...

Another series whose production was interrupted by the coronavirus pandemic has successfully finished its season. Genius: Aretha, the third installment in National Geographic’s anthology series, wrapped production today in Atlanta. The show commemorated the occasion with photos on Instagram featuring star Cynthia Erivo as music icon Aretha Franklin as well as executive producer/showrunner Suzan-Lori Parks, who sent the cast and crew a welcome-back note the day the series resumed production last month, and executive producer/director Anthony Hemingway.

The caption accompanying the photos notes that Genius: Aretha will debut in 2021.

Genius: Aretha, about the legendary “Chain of Fools” singer, had filmed 5 1/2 episodes of its eight-episode order when production shut down mid-March amid the escalating coronavirus outbreak. Two weeks later, Nat Geo delayed the premiere of the limited series, originally slated for May 25, for “later this year.” An early 2021 debut had been considered a more likely scenario given the lengthy pandemic-related hiatus,...

Exclusive: Three weeks after resuming production, filming on National Geographic’s Genius: Aretha came to a halt today after a background actor tested positive for Covid-19, sources said. I hear production was suspended for the day. It is unclear at the moment how long the shutdown will last; such decisions are often made day by day. Genius studio Touchstone Television declined comment.

Genius: Aretha, about the legendary singer Aretha Franklin, had filmed 5 1/2 episodes of its eight-episode order when production shut down mid-March amid the escalating coronavirus outbreak. Two weeks later, Nat Geo delayed the premiere of the limited series, originally slated for May 25, for “later this year.” An early 2021 debut is now considered a possibility.

After extensive prep work, Genius: Aretha restarted production on October 1 in Atlanta.

Genius: Aretha, from Imagine Television and Touchstone TV, is the third installment of the Nat Geo anthology. It is dubbed as the first-ever,...

After a months-long coronavirus-related delay, National Geographic’s Genius: Aretha resumed production today in Atlanta as planned, and cast and crew were greeted with a welcome back letter from executive producer/showrunner Suzan-Lori Parks.

Genius: Aretha, starring Cynthia Erivo as the legendary singer Aretha Franklin, had filmed 5 1/2 episodes of its eight-episode order when production shut down mid-March amid the escalating coronavirus outbreak. Two weeks later, Nat Geo delayed the premiere of the limited series, originally slated for May 25. There is new date yet.

“We are fortunate to be working on such a beautiful, necessary, and relevant show In these challenging and difficult times,” Parks wrote in the letter, obtained by Deadline. “We’ll get through this together. We’ll lead with respect and compassion. We have been called to serve the Queen of Soul.”

Added Parks, “Queen Aretha Franklin’s existence has summoned us all here so that we can make a great show,...

Exclusive: National Geographic’s Genius: Aretha is set to resume filming Oct. 1 in Atlanta. The cast, led by star Cynthia Erivo, have already arrived in Georgia as the crew is wrapping up pre-production.

Genius: Aretha, about the legendary singer Aretha Franklin, had filmed 5 1/2 episodes of its eight-episode order when production shut down mid-March amid the escalating coronavirus outbreak. Two weeks later, Nat Geo delayed the premiere of the limited series, originally slated for May 25, for “later this year.”

A new launch date has not been locked in yet. According to sources, Thanksgiving has been considered though a debut at the start of 2021 appears more realistic at the moment. Disney-owned Nat Geo will likely try to get ahead of the Aretha Franklin biopic Respect, starring Jennifer Hudson, slated for a Jan. 15 theatrical release.

Genius: Aretha is the third installment of the Nat Geo anthology, following Albert Einstein and Pablo Picasso. It is dubbed as the first-ever,...

Brian Grazer and Ron Howard’s Imagine Entertainment has signed a co-producing and co-financing partnership with Warner Music Group.

The two companies will collaborate on music-centered projects across multiple mediums, including film, television, documentary, and other short-form content. Imagine and Warner Music Group are already working together on the third season of National Geographic’s “Genius” anthology series, which spotlights Aretha Franklin.

Warner Music’s participation in the series will allow the series to feature many of Franklin’s songs and recordings, including “I Never Loved a Man (The Way I Love You),” “Chain of Fools,” “Don’t Play That Song,” “Since You’ve Been Gone” and “Baby I Love You.” It will also feature Franklin’s performances of “I Knew You Were Waiting for Me,” “Freeway of Love” and “Sisters Are Doin’ It for Themselves.” Cynthia Erivo stars the late Queen of Soul, alongside Courtney B. Vance, David Cross, Malcolm Barrett,...

A reading of David Mamet’s play November, starring John Malkovich, Patti LuPone, Dylan Baker, Ethan Phillips and Michael Nichols, will kick off a new weekly livestream series of readings Thursday to benefit The Actors Fund, with subsequent presentations to feature Bryan Cranston, Sally Field and To Kill A Mockingbird‘s Gideon Glick.

The Spotlight on Plays series will be featured on Broadway’s Best Shows, a new YouTube and Facebook channel for Broadway-related content. The play series kicks off Thursday, May 7 at 8 p.m. Et with November, written and directed by Mamet. The comedy, which opened on Broadway in 2007, follows a fictional U.S. president in the days leading up to his second election.

November is executive produced by Jeffrey Richards and produced by Broadway’s Best Shows, Jim Glaub and Jacob Soroken Porter.

Joshua Harmon’s acclaimed Significant Other, about a young man standing by as his friends pair off and settle down,...

Today's episode features Rebecca Naomi Jones- best known for her performances in the Broadway rock musicals Passing Strange, American Idiot, and Hedwig and the Angry Inch.Jones was born in New York City, New York, to a musician father. Her mother is Jewish and her father is African-American. Jones performed in the children's chorus of the Metropolitan Opera as a youth and graduated from the Berkeley Carroll School in 1999. 'I did theatre all throughout middle school and high school and was really into it, the same with singing,' she said.

The third installment of National Geographic’s “Genius” anthology series, subtitled “Aretha” for its subject Aretha Franklin, has been delayed due to the novel coronavirus halting production.

Originally, “Genius: Aretha” was set to premiere on Memorial Day, but the limited series starring Cynthia Erivo in the titular role was still in production when concerns about the pandemic caused shutdowns across the country. With production still suspended, the network sent out a statement saying that “it has become clear that the series will not be completed in time for our previously announced Memorial Day airdate.”

Although the new premiere date is still to be announced, this likely means the show will also be unable to compete in the 72nd Annual Primetime Emmy Awards this September, as the eligibility deadline is May 31, 2020, with hanging episodes bleeding over into June.

“We look forward to resuming work as soon as is possible and safe,...

National Geographic has pushed back the premiere date for “Genius: Aretha” from Memorial Day 2020 to “later this year.”

Like basically every other TV show, the limited series starring Cynthia Erivo as Aretha Franklin is on a forced production hiatus due to the coronavirus pandemic.

“Production on National Geographic’s limited series ‘Genius: Aretha’ (from Fox 21 Television Studios and Imagine Television Studios) remains suspended and it has become clear that the series will not be completed in time for our previously announced Memorial Day airdate,” a Nat Geo spokesperson said in a statement. “We look forward to resuming work as soon as is possible and safe, and at that time will announce a new premiere date for later this year.”...

National Geographic’s forthcoming Genius: Aretha will no longer debut on May 25. The limited series about the legendary singer Aretha Franklin starring Cynthia Erivo will premiere at a later to-be-announced date due to production delays caused by the coronavirus pandemic.

The statement below was sent to Deadline from National Geographic.

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Production on National Geographic’s limited series Genius: Aretha (from Fox 21 Television Studios and Imagine Television Studios) remains suspended and it has become clear that the series will not be completed in time for our previously announced Memorial Day airdate. We look forward to resuming work as soon as is possible and safe,...

The upcoming National Geographic limited series “Aretha: Genius” will likely not be eligible for the 2020 Emmy Awards. The cable network announced Monday morning that production delays will force the program to debut later than its original Memorial Day weekend plan. The TV Academy has a June 5 deadline for this awards season.

The 10-part show stars Grammy, Tony and Daytime Emmy winner Cynthia Erivo as the legendary singer Aretha Franklin. Other cast members include Courtney B. Vance, David Cross, T.I. and Rebecca Naomi Jones.

SEEWho needs an Oscar to reach Egot?

NatGeo has been successful at the Emmys with two prior “Genius” installments. The 2017 season about Albert Einstein received 10 nominations, including for Best Limited Series, Best Actor (Geoffrey Rush) and Best Director (Ron Howard). The 2018 cycle about Pablo Picasso won twice (for cinematography and sound mixing) among seven nominations, including Best Limited Series and Best Actor (Antonio Banderas).

SEERon Howard teases...

Cynthia Erivo is ready for her close-up as Aretha Franklin!

The Oscars nominee, 33, completes her transformation into the Queen of Soul in the first teaser for National Geographic’s Genius: Aretha, a biographical television anthology series about the legendary singer.

In a short trailer released on Friday, Erivo captures Franklin’s passion for music — from her humble upbringing to recording her iconic hits in the studio.

“What kind of music do you really want to make, Miss Franklin?” producer Jerry Wexler, played by actor David Cross, asks her at one point in the clip.

To which Erivo’s Franklin replies,...

In today’s TV news roundup, National Geographic released a teaser for “Genius: Aretha” and Quibi released a teaser for “Most Dangerous Game” starring Liam Hemsworth.

First Looks

National Geographic unveiled a teaser for “Genius: Aretha” that will also air during the Oscars on Sunday. The eight-part series will premiere on May 25 at 9 p.m. and air over four consecutive nights. The series explores Aretha Franklin’s musical career and the impact she has had on music and culture around the world. The cast includes Cynthia Erivo as Franklin, Courtney B. Vance, David Cross, Malcom Barett, Pualetta Washington, Patricia Covington, Rebecca Naomi Jones, Steven Norfleet, Kimberly Hebert Gregory, Omar J. Dorsey, Marque Richardson and Shaian Jordan.

Quibi released a teaser for “Most Dangerous Game” starring Liam Hemsworth and Christoph Waltz. The action-thriller follows Dodge Maynard (Hemsworth) who accepts an offer to participate in a deadly game in order to take...

National Geographic and Fox 21 Television Studios will release a first-look, national teaser promo for Genius: Aretha during this Sunday’s Oscars telecast airing on ABC, a sister network of NatGeo, which is also owned by Disney.

Cynthia Erivo, a 2020 Academy Awards nominee, stars as Aretha Franklin in the third season of the global anthology series. Set to perform Stand Up live during the Oscars, Erivo is nominated in two categories: Actress in a Leading Role and Music (Original Song) for the film Harriet.

Genius: Aretha will premiere over four consecutive nights, beginning Memorial Day, Monday, May 25, at 9/8c. The series will be the first authorized scripted limited series on the life of Aretha Franklin. The eight-part series will explore Franklin’s musical genius and career, and the immeasurable impact and lasting influence she has had on music and culture around the world.

The cast includes Cynthia Erivo as Aretha Franklin; Courtney B. Vance (The People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story) as C.L. Franklin; David Cross as Jerry Wexler; Malcolm Barrett as Ted White; Pauletta Washington (She’s Gotta Have It) as Grandmother Rachel; Patrice Covington (Broadway’s The Color Purple) as Erma Franklin; Rebecca Naomi Jones (The Big Sick) as Carolyn Franklin; Steven Norfleet (Watchmen) as Cecil Franklin; Kimberly Hébert Gregory (Vice Principals) as Ruth Bowen; Omar J. Dorsey (Queen Sugar) as James Cleveland; Marque Richardson (Dear White People) as King Curtis; and introducing Shaian Jordan as Little Re.

Imagine is partnering with Warner Music Entertainment for this third season, which will again be executive produced by Imagine’s Brian Grazer and Ron Howard. Suzan-Lori Parks is showrunner and executive producer, and Anthony Hemingway is executive producer and producing director for the season.

Record producer Clive Davis and Atlantic Records Chairman and CEO Craig Kallman have also joined as executive producers. Returning executive producers include Francie Calfo, Ken Biller, Gigi Pritzker and Rachel Shane (Mwm Studios), and Sam Sokolow (Eue/Sokolow). In addition, Imagine’s Anna Culp serves as producer alongside Peter Afterman.

Have your first look at Cynthia Erivo as the Queen of Soul in the first teaser for Nat Geo’s “Genius: Aretha.” Watch it above now.

The clip is set to air on Nat Geo’s sister broadcast network ABC during Sunday’s Oscars telecast to promote the upcoming season of the anthology ahead of its May premiere.

Led by Ervio, who is nominated for multiple Oscars for her role in the Harriet Tubman biopic “Harriet,” “Genius: Aretha” is the third installment of the Nat Geo anthology dramatizing the lives of histories greatest innovators.

Also Read: 'Genius: Aretha' Star Cynthia Erivo Sent a Note of Congratulations to 'Respect' Star Jennifer Hudson

“Genius: Aretha” will premiere on Nat Geo across four consecutive nights, beginning Memorial Day, Monday, May 25. Per Nat Geo, the eight-part series will “explore Franklin’s musical genius and incomparable career — and the immeasurable impact and lasting...

Season 3 of National Geographic’s “Genius” will focus on Aretha Franklin, with two-time Oscar nominee Cynthia Erivo (“Harriet”) tapped to play the legendary singer. So why was Erivo right for the part? “It’s just all about her capability in bringing Aretha to the screen with real power and integrity,” Ron Howard revealed to Gold Derby at the 2020 Television Academy Hall of Fame ceremony. Howard is an executive producer and director of the Emmy-winning biopic limited series, which has already chronicled the lives of Albert Einstein (Geoffrey Rush) in 2017 and Pablo Picasso (Antonio Banderas) in 2018. Watch our red carpet interview with Howard above.

SEEOscars 2020 performers include Cynthia Erivo, Elton John, Idina Menzel, Chrissy Metz, Randy Newman

In between shooting “Genius: Aretha,” Erivo is busy campaigning for a pair of Oscars for “Harriet”: Best Actress for portraying Harriet Tubman and Best Song for co-writing “Stand Up” with Joshuah Brian Campbell.

2020 will see dueling Aretha Franklin biopics, with Cynthia Erivo set to portray the Queen of Soul in Nat Geo’s “Genius: Aretha” and Jennifer Hudson taking on the role in the feature film “Respect.” But all involved in the Nat Geo series say there’s room for everyone.

“I haven’t spoken to Jennifer personally,” Erivo said at the Television Critics Association press tour on Friday. “[But] I sent her a message saying congratulations. I’m really looking forward to seeing her version in the film.”

“I’m actually excited by the fact that we get to tell her story more than once,” she said. “I think the more the merrier. There are many heroes out there who have had their story told many different times, and to have someone like Aretha to have a moment to tell her story more than once, and tell it again and again, is kind of amazing.

Exclusive: Nat Geo is rounding out its cast for Genius: Aretha, the next installment of its popular anthology from Imagine Television and Fox 21 TV Studios that stars Cynthia Erivo as the Queen of Soul.

Newcomer Shaian Jordan is set as a series regular in a recasting. Additionally, Dear White People‘s Marque Richardson, Pauletta Washington (She’s Gotta Have It), Steven Norfleet (Watchmen) and Queen Sugar star Omar J. Dorsey have been cast in recurring roles. They join Erivo and previously announced cast Courtney B. Vance, Malcolm Barrett, Patrice Covington, Kimberly Hébert Gregory and Rebecca Naomi Jones. Anthony Hemingway executive produces and directs the pilot episode.

Billed as the first, definitive and only authorized scripted limited series on Franklin’s life, Genius: Aretha is slated for a spring premiere on National Geographic channels in 172 countries and 43 languages.

Jordan will play Little Re, replacing Sanai Victoria who played the role in the pilot.

This year’s Grammy nominees for Best Musical Theater Album are “Ain’t Too Proud,” “Hadestown,” “Moulin Rouge!,” “The Music of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child — In Four Contemporary Suites” and “Oklahoma!” Six of the last 10 winners in this category matched up with the Tony Award for Best Musical. So does this bode well for the 2019 Tonys champ, “Hadestown”?

In the musical, songwriter Orpheus and his muse Eurydice fall in love during the warmth of summertime. But as winter approaches, reality sets in: these young dreamers can’t survive on songs alone. Tempted by the promise of plenty, Eurydice is lured to the depths of industrial Hadestown. On a quest to save her, Orpheus journeys to the underworld where their trust is put to a final test.

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The nominated principal soloists on the recording are Reeve Carney, André De Shields,...

National Geographic released a first look photo of “Genius” star Cynthia Erivo in character as Aretha Franklin on Friday.

The “Harriet” star is currently in production on the third season of the anthology series, which is set to premiere on Nat Geo in May 2020.

“Over the last few months, I’ve been preparing myself to embody the Queen of Soul, from re-listening to her music to discovering her rare interviews and reading some amazing books on her — all to really capture Aretha’s attitude and spirit,” Erivo said. “I’m truly humbled to be working alongside a very talented and musical team. Together, we’ll serve the Queen and create something special.”

Also Read: Courtney B Vance Joins Nat Geo's 'Genius' as Aretha Franklin's Father

Nat Geo

Joining Erivo in “Genius: Aretha” is an ensemble cast including Courtney B. Vance, David Cross, Malcolm Barrett, Patrice Covington, Kimberly Hébert Gregory,...

Cynthia Erivo is transformed into the late, great Queen of Soul in a first-look photo from Genius: Aretha, the upcoming biographical series from National Geographic and Fox 21 Television Studios.

See the photo below.

Erivo, a Tony Award winner for Broadway’s 2015 The Color Purple and the star of this year’s Harriet Tubman biopic Harriet, will play Aretha Franklin in the third installment of the series (following seasons devoted to Albert Einstein and Pablo Picasso).

“Over the last few months,” said Erivo, “I’ve been preparing myself to embody the Queen of Soul, from relistening to her music to discovering her rare interviews and reading some amazing books on her — all to really capture Aretha’s attitude and spirit. I’m truly humbled to be working alongside a very talented and musical team. Together, we’ll serve the Queen and create something special.”

Also featured in the cast are...

David Cross has joined the cast of the upcoming third season of “Genius” at Nat Geo, which will focus on music legend Aretha Franklin.

Cross will star as music producer Jerry Wexler. Cynthia Erivo is set to play Franklin, with Courtney B. Vance, Malcolm Barrett, Patrice Covington, Kimberly Hébert Gregory, Rebecca Naomi Jones, and Sanai Victoria also set to star in the eight-episode season.

Cross’ Wexler is described as a scrappy, Bronx-born legendary producer who is one of the first to spot Franklin’s incredible talent and potential. He’s a street savvy music man with great ears who isn’t afraid to go into segregated clubs to find talented performers like Ray Charles and Wilson Pickett. He even coined the term “rhythm and blues.” He poached Franklin from Columbia to Atlantic Records and works with her from 1966-79 during which time she records some of her most iconic hits.

The Grammys took a fairly expansive sweep with this morning’s nominations for Best Musical Theater Album, The Motown sound, Rodgers & Hammerstein, the folk-rock music of Anaïs Mitchell, the reworked radio hits of Moulin Rouge! and Imogen Heap’s Harry Potter musical suites were all represented.

But four of the five nominations did not include composers, since the music was not original to the cast albums. In the case of several, the musical numbers consist largely of oldies, some reworked for contemporary settings. Anaïs Mitchell’s previous concept album for Hadestown was already Grammy-nominated upon its release in 2010.

The nominees:

Ain’t Too Proud: The Life And Times Of The Temptations is a rousing recreation of the Motown sound, focusing largely, but not exclusively, on the title group’s hits. Nominated were original cast members Saint Aubyn, Derrick Baskin, James Harkness, Jawan M. Jackson, Jeremy Pope and Ephraim Sykes and...

Courtney B. Vance, an Emmy winner for his performance as Johnnie Cochran in FX’s The People V. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story, is set to star opposite Cynthia Erivo in Genius: Aretha, the next installment of Nat Geo’s popular anthology series, from Imagine Television and Fox 21 TV Studios.

Billed as the first-ever, definitive and only authorized scripted limited series on the life of Franklin, Genius: Aretha will begin production in December for a spring 2020 premiere on National Geographic channels in 172 countries and 43 languages.

Vance joins as Aretha’s (Erivo) father, C.L. Franklin, an influential reverend and civil rights activist known as the “Million Dollar Voice.” A star in his own right, C.L.’s legendary sermons were published and sold in record stores and broadcast on a weekly radio show, and he booked national ministry tours and public appearances. C.L. had a close but fraught relationship...

Courtney B. Vance has joined the cast of the upcoming third season of “Genius” at Nat Geo, which will focus on Aretha Franklin.

Vance will star as Aretha’s father C.L. Franklin. Cynthia Erivo is set to play Aretha, with Malcolm Barrett, Patrice Covington, Kimberly Hébert Gregory, Rebecca Naomi Jones, and Sanai Victoria also set to star in the eight-episode season. Suzan-Lori Parks serves as showrunner and executive producer with Anthony Hemingway executive producing and directing. The season is slated to debut in the spring.

C.L. Franklin is described as an influential reverend and civil rights activist known as the “Million Dollar Voice.” A star in his own right, C.L.’s legendary sermons were published and sold in record stores and broadcast on a weekly radio show, and he booked national ministry tours and public appearances. C.L. had a close but fraught relationship with his daughter and supported her throughout her career,...

In today’s roundup, National Geographic announced the ensemble cast joining “Genius: Aretha” and Comedy Central has ordered eight episodes of Bobby Moynihan’s digital series “Loafy.”

Casting

Malcolm Barrett, Patrice Covington (“The Color Purple”), Kimberly Hébert Gregory (“Vice Principals”), Rebecca Naomi Jones (“The Big Sick”), Sanai Victoria (“Black-ish”) have been cast alongside Cynthia Erivo in National Geographic’s “Genius: Aretha.” Also, Emmy, Golden Globe and BAFTA TV award-winner Anthony Hemingway joined the anthology series as executive producer and pilot director.

Quinn Copeland, Lauren Donzis, Oliver De Los Santos and Noah Cottrell have been cast as series regulars in Peacock’s “Punky Brewster” pilot. From Ucp and Universal Television, the multi-camera/hybrid continuation of the ’80s sitcom follows Punky (Soleil Moon Frye), now a single mother of three trying to get her life back on track when she meets Izzy (Copeland), a young girl who reminds her a lot of her younger self.

Timeless vet Malcolm Barrett is getting hitched to one of music’s biggest icons: The actor will co-star in National Geographic’s Aretha Franklin installment of the anthology series Genius as the singer’s first husband and business manager Ted White.

Also joining the cast are Patrice Covington (Broadway’s The Color Purple) and Rebecca Naomi Jones (Sex & Drugs & Rock & Roll) as Aretha’s sisters Erma and Carolyn, Kimberly Hébert Gregory (Vice Principals) as Ruth Bowen, the head of a successful black-owned agency, and Sanai Victoria (No Good Nick) as young Aretha.

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