Season three, which will be based on the life and career of the Queen of Soul, follows two previous centering on Albert Einstein and Pablo Picasso. 

The news was announced by the network during its TCA panel, during which Nat Geo also announced that Pulitzer-winning playwright Suzan-Lori Parks will serve as executive producer and showrunner for the upcoming season. Clive Davis, as well as Atlantic Records chairman and CEO Craig Kallman, will also executive produce.

When Genius was renewed in April, it was also announced that the third season will feature author Mary Shelley. Now that it has been confirmed that the forthcoming season will be devoted to Franklin, Deadline reports that the “Mary Shelley story remains in consideration for future installments of the anthology series.”

“Aretha Franklin had the ability to empower generations through her iconic music, and I’m excited to finally be able to tell her story, a career passion of mine. All through her life she used her voice to elevate people and the causes she believed in, especially the women’s and civil rights movements,” executive producer  Brian Grazer said in a statement. “You can hear the hopes and sorrows of a divided nation in her soulful voice, penetrating and motivating people at their core in a deeply emotional way. She cut through the pain of Martin Luther King Jr.’s assassination to help heal and unite America with her music and, in the process, ushered in the post-gospel era of rhythm and blues. We’re so grateful she shared her genius with the world.”

Filming on the Franklin-centered Genius season is set to begin this summer. 

The post Next Season of Nat Geo’s “Genius” Centers on Aretha Franklin appeared first on OMG Check It Out !.

After a legal battle and technical difficulties, the Aretha Franklin concert film is finally heading to the big screen. Deadline reports that Neon has acquired the North American rights to the iconic singer’s documentary, Amazing Grace. The deal was negotiated by Neon and Endeavor Content on behalf of filmmakers. The news comes one month after the movie premiered at DOC NYC.

Sabrina Owens, Franklin’s niece and personal representative of the Aretha Franklin Estate, said in a statement: “Amazing Grace is the heart and soul of Aretha Franklin. This film is authentic and is my aunt to her core. Our family couldn’t be more excited for audiences to experience the genius of her work and spirit through this film.”

The 1972 concert was shot by Sydney Pollack at the New Temple Missionary Baptist Church in Los Angeles. It chronicles Franklin’s return to gospel at the age of 29 and the genesis of the biggest gospel album to date.

Neon is planning an early 2019 theatrical release.

The post Aretha Franklin Documentary Bought by Neon appeared first on OMG Check It Out !.

Portraying Franklin in the movie is American Idol veteran, Jennifer Hudson. Actually, it was Franklin herself that hand picked Hudson to star in the biopic as the Queen of Soul.

This won’t be the first time Hudson will be starring in an onscreen musical drama, having starred in Dreamgirls, her debut feature film, winning an Oscar for her performance.

Franklin’s career spans six decades with 44 Grammy nominations. She made history as the first woman inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. The biopic will be based on her memoir, Aretha. The film is a long-gestating project and has been in the works since 2011.

The news was announced during Clive Davis’ pre-Grammy party. Davis introduced Hudson to sing a couple songs and then told the audience that she will be playing Franklin.

Producing the project are Scott Bernstein and Harvey Mason, who has worked with Franklin and also produced music for Dreamgirls.

The post Aretha Franklin biopic with Jennifer Hudson lands at MGM appeared first on OMG Check It Out !.

Season three, which will be based on the life and career of the Queen of Soul, follows two previous centering on Albert Einstein and Pablo Picasso. 

The news was announced by the network during its TCA panel, during which Nat Geo also announced that Pulitzer-winning playwright Suzan-Lori Parks will serve as executive producer and showrunner for the upcoming season. Clive Davis, as well as Atlantic Records chairman and CEO Craig Kallman, will also executive produce.

When Genius was renewed in April, it was also announced that the third season will feature author Mary Shelley. Now that it has been confirmed that the forthcoming season will be devoted to Franklin, Deadline reports that the “Mary Shelley story remains in consideration for future installments of the anthology series.”

“Aretha Franklin had the ability to empower generations through her iconic music, and I’m excited to finally be able to tell her story, a career passion of mine. All through her life she used her voice to elevate people and the causes she believed in, especially the women’s and civil rights movements,” executive producer  Brian Grazer said in a statement. “You can hear the hopes and sorrows of a divided nation in her soulful voice, penetrating and motivating people at their core in a deeply emotional way. She cut through the pain of Martin Luther King Jr.’s assassination to help heal and unite America with her music and, in the process, ushered in the post-gospel era of rhythm and blues. We’re so grateful she shared her genius with the world.”

Filming on the Franklin-centered Genius season is set to begin this summer. 

The post Next Season of Nat Geo’s “Genius” Centers on Aretha Franklin appeared first on OMG Check It Out !.

After a legal battle and technical difficulties, the Aretha Franklin concert film is finally heading to the big screen. Deadline reports that Neon has acquired the North American rights to the iconic singer’s documentary, Amazing Grace. The deal was negotiated by Neon and Endeavor Content on behalf of filmmakers. The news comes one month after the movie premiered at DOC NYC.

Sabrina Owens, Franklin’s niece and personal representative of the Aretha Franklin Estate, said in a statement: “Amazing Grace is the heart and soul of Aretha Franklin. This film is authentic and is my aunt to her core. Our family couldn’t be more excited for audiences to experience the genius of her work and spirit through this film.”

The 1972 concert was shot by Sydney Pollack at the New Temple Missionary Baptist Church in Los Angeles. It chronicles Franklin’s return to gospel at the age of 29 and the genesis of the biggest gospel album to date.

Neon is planning an early 2019 theatrical release.

The post Aretha Franklin Documentary Bought by Neon appeared first on OMG Check It Out !.

Portraying Franklin in the movie is American Idol veteran, Jennifer Hudson. Actually, it was Franklin herself that hand picked Hudson to star in the biopic as the Queen of Soul.

This won’t be the first time Hudson will be starring in an onscreen musical drama, having starred in Dreamgirls, her debut feature film, winning an Oscar for her performance.

Franklin’s career spans six decades with 44 Grammy nominations. She made history as the first woman inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. The biopic will be based on her memoir, Aretha. The film is a long-gestating project and has been in the works since 2011.

The news was announced during Clive Davis’ pre-Grammy party. Davis introduced Hudson to sing a couple songs and then told the audience that she will be playing Franklin.

Producing the project are Scott Bernstein and Harvey Mason, who has worked with Franklin and also produced music for Dreamgirls.

The post Aretha Franklin biopic with Jennifer Hudson lands at MGM appeared first on OMG Check It Out !.