Disney+ Original Series “Genius: MLK/X,” From National Geographic, Taps Reggie Rock Bythewood and Gina Prince-Bythewood as Executive Producers

Disney+ and National Geographic announced today that Reggie Rock Bythewood and Gina Prince-Bythewood will serve as executive producers under their production company Undisputed Cinema on the Disney+ Original limited series “Genius: MLK/X,” produced by Imagine Television Studios and 20th Television. Brian Grazer and Ron Howard return as executive producers.

In a first for the franchise, the new season will focus on two iconic geniuses: Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X. With three seasons of the critically acclaimed series garnering 20 Emmy nominations and premiering on National Geographic, “Genius” will move to Disney+ for the fourth installment and subsequent seasons.

Also joining “Genius: MLK/X” as showrunners and executive producers are Raphael Jackson, Jr. and Damione Macedon (“The Mosquito Coast,” “Power“), and Jeff Stetson is penning the pilot. Francie Calfo (“Genius,” “Empire“) and Anna Culp (“Genius,” “Under the Banner of Heaven“) return as executive producers.

The fourth season will explore the formative years, pioneering accomplishments, duelling philosophies, and key personal relationships of Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X. While King advanced racial equality through nonviolent protest, Malcolm X argued forcefully for Black empowerment, identity, and self-determination. With their formidable wives, Coretta Scott King and Betty Shabazz, by their sides, King and Malcolm X became synonymous with the civil rights era and the fight for racial and economic justice. While they met only once and often challenged each other’s views, neither would have been as successful without the other.

“Malcolm and Martin are staggering icons, and we have been eager to explore the genius of these two very real men in a way that has not yet been seen,” said the Bythewoods. “We are excited to team up with Imagine Entertainment and 20th Television to reflect their amazing lives and contributions to civil rights and the urgency of today.”

Multihyphenate Reggie Rock Bythewood is creator and showrunner of the Apple TV+ series from Imagine Television “Swagger,” inspired by NBA superstar Kevin Durant’s youth basketball experiences. Bythewood began his professional career writing for the hit comedy series “A Different World,” where he met his future wife, Prince-Bythewood. Years later, after attending the Million Man March, he wrote the script for his first produced screenplay, “Get On The Bus.” Bythewood’s numerous credits include “New York Undercover,” “Dancing in September,” and “Notorious” and Bythewood co-created and executive produced the acclaimed event series “Shots Fired” produced by 20th Television and Imagine Entertainment.

Award-winning director/writer/producer Gina Prince-Bythewood’s next feature film, “The Woman King,” starring Academy Award® winner Viola Davis and international Emmy Award-nominated South African actress Thuso Mbedu and an incredible ensemble, opens in cinemas later this year. Most recently, Prince-Bythewood directed the critically acclaimed Netflix feature “The Old Guard” and will serve as a producer on the sequel. Prince-Bythwood also directed and wrote “Love & Basketball,” “The Secret Life of Bees” and “Beyond The Lights.” Additionally, Prince-Bythewood co-created and executive produced the acclaimed event series “Shots Fired,” produced by 20th Television and Imagine Entertainment.

Prior to taking the reins on “Genius: MLK/X,” Jackson and Macedon were consulting producers on “The Mosquito Coast” for Apple TV. They were recently under an overall deal at Legendary TV, where they collaborated with director David Leitch and comic icon Ed Brubaker on the adaptation of his Eisner Award-winning comic book, “The Dead and The Dying.” Previously, Jackson and Macedon served as co-executive producers on the 50 Cent-produced hit franchise “Power.” Jackson and Macedon are represented by Rothman Brecher Ehrich Livingston, Stagecoach Entertainment, and Del, Shaw, Moonves, Tanaka, Finkelstein & Lezcano.

In addition to Calfo and Culp, Gigi Pritzker and Rachel Shane (MWM Studios) and Sam Sokolow (EUE/Sokolow) will return as executive producers.

“Genius” dramatises the fascinating stories of the world’s most brilliant innovators, exploring their extraordinary achievements along with their volatile, passionate, and complex personal relationships. In 2017, National Geographic premiered the first season of “Genius,” which starred Geoffrey Rush as the brilliant scientist Albert Einstein. “Genius: Einstein” earned 10 Emmy nominations, including Outstanding Limited Series, as well as Golden Globe® and SAG Award nominations for Rush. The follow-up season, “Genius: Picasso,” starred Antonio Banderas as the titular Spanish painter and matched much of the success of its predecessor, earning seven Emmy nominations – and two wins – as well as Golden Globe and SAG Award nominations for Banderas. The third installment, “Genius: Aretha,” starred Cynthia Erivo as Aretha Franklin and premiered as the most-watched telecast for National Geographic in two years. Erivo received Emmy, Critics Choice, and Golden Globe nominations for her critically acclaimed role as the Queen of Soul.