Albert Einstein and Pablo Picasso will be succeeded by legendary writer Mary Shelley on National Geographic’s “Genius.” Deadline confirms that the “Frankenstein” author has been named the subject of the anthology series’ third season, which follows one history-making innovator or gamechanger each year. Nat Geo is expected to pursue a big name to portray Shelley, as it did with its other installments of “Genius” — Geoffrey Rush took on the role of Einstein in 2017 and Antonio Banderas stars as Picasso in Season 2, which premieres next week.
Finding a female protagonist for “Genius” was reportedly very important to the producers. They considered finding a woman to lead Season 2 before settling on Picasso, but “doubled their efforts on getting a woman-centered third season together,” Deadline reveals. (We don’t really understand why they had so much difficulty finding a woman to serve as the subject of “Genius” — there’s plenty of them out there, even if they haven’t received their due.)
Co-creator Ken Biller will continue to showrun, EP, and write for “Genius” on Season 3. Anna Culp will produce and MWM Studios’ Gigi Pritzker and Rachel Shane are among the exec producers. Production will likely begin later in 2018.
A prodigy, radical thinker, and daughter of “A Vindication of the Rights of Woman” writer Mary Wollstonecraft, Shelley became one of the defining voices of 19th century literature — as well as the mother of science fiction and horror — with “Frankenstein: or, The Modern Prometheus.” Published during the Romantic era, the book centers on a scientist whose hubris leads him to believe he can create life. The novel explores, ethics, scientific progress, and humans’ lack of control over the natural world.
Shelley penned several other novels including “The Last Man” and many short stories. She was also a travel writer, critic, and biographer.
“Mary Shelley’s ‘Frankenstein’ left an indelible mark on generations of imaginations. Equally inspiring is the story of Shelley’s relentless innovation, coupled with her desire to live on her own unconventional terms, despite immense societal and cultural obstacles,” remarked Carolyn Bernstein, EVP, global development and production for Nat Geo.
“Mary Shelley has inspired countless filmmakers with her tale of the wretch brought to life by science gone wrong, but very few have fully captured her insightful reflections on society in the myth she left behind,” added executive producer Ron Howard. “Few know of her struggles due to gender inequities, her additional writings, her influence on other historically significant individuals and society at large. Showcasing someone like Mary Shelley and her amazing intellect, compassion, and fortitude is exactly what this series is for.”
Shelley’s life is also the subject of Haifaa Al-Mansour’s upcoming feature “Mary Shelley.” The Elle Fanning-starrer follows Shelley as she writes “Frankenstein” and begins a romance with her eventual husband, poet Percy Bysshe Shelley. It hits theaters May 25.
