Who are the actors playing Martin Luther King and Malcolm X? – New York Daily News

The private lives and relationships of two of the most iconic civil rights leaders will be explored in the Emmy Award-winning Genius anthology series.

Disney+ and National Geographic announced Wednesday that Kelvin Harrison Jr. will star as Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Aaron Pierre will play Malcolm X in Genius: MLK/X, expected to start production in Atlanta next month.

Aaron Pierre and Kelvin Harrison Jr. (David Reiss and Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images/David Reiss)

According to the logline, the anthology series will explore the formative years, pioneering accomplishments, dueling philosophies and key personal relationships of Dr. 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.

Harrison, who most recently appeared as blues pioneer B.B. King in Elvis, received buzz earlier this year for his star turn in Cyrano. The New Orleans native previously starred as Fred Hampton in Aaron Sorkins six-time Oscar nominated historical drama The Trial of the Chicago 7.

[Cyrano star to portray Jean-Michel Basquiat in Samo Lives biopic]

Pierre had a star turn in the Amazon series The Underground Railroad and M. Night Shyamalans Old last year. The London-born actor was also cast as the lead of the new Blade movie, which is in pre-production. Both actors will also star in Mufasa: The Lion King Barry Jenkins live action sequel to The Lion King, expected to hit theaters in 2024.

I May Destroy You actress Weruche Opia will play Coretta Scott King, and Jayme Lawson (of The Batman) as Betty Shabazz in the series that will be helmed by Miss Juneteenth director Channing Godfrey Peoples.

Weruche Opia and Jayme Lawson. (Karl Lake and Ryan E. Plett/Karl Lake)

Executive producers Reggie Rock Bythewood and Gina Prince-Bythewood selected several historians and experts to serve as consultants before the project was scripted in order to guide the narrative.

Former Black Panther Party member and Columbia University School of the Arts Prof. Jamal Joseph, Muslim Wellness Foundation founder Dr. Kameelah Rashad, award-winning journalist and author Dr. Barbara Reynolds and Pastor Michael A. Walrond, Jr., of Harlems First Corinthian Baptist Church are among the think tank for Genius: MLK/X.

We wanted to assemble a consortium of scholars and experts who can not only lend their extensive knowledge, expertise and research but also create a space for meaningful debate and discussion to ensure an honest portrayal of the complexities of these iconic geniuses. The legacies of Martin and Malcolm are critical to our understanding of the social justice movements of today, so we had to get this right. We could not have asked for a more incredible group to guide us through their stories, added the Bythewoods.

[First look at Viola Davis in Gina Prince-Bythewood's "The Woman King"]

The Genius series set out to dramatize the stories of the worlds most brilliant innovators, exploring their achievements along with their complex personal relationships.

Previous subjects include scientist Albert Einstein (portrayed by Geoffrey Rush) in 2017 and 2019s installment about iconic Spanish painter Pablo Picasso, played by Antonio Banderas.

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Who are the actors playing Martin Luther King and Malcolm X? - New York Daily News