If the trailer is any indication, National Geographic is set to deliver a knockout biopic of Aretha Franklin with its forthcoming miniseries, ‘Genius: Aretha.’
Calling on GRAMMY, TONY, and EMMY-winning singer-actress Cynthia Erivo to transform into its titular character, the TV event – which premieres March 21 – will chronicle Franklin’s humble beginnings to her unprecedented rise to be crowned the ever-reigning Queen of Soul.
And while Erivo is lending her real singing voice to cover Aretha’s timeless hits, critics were particularly impressed with her spirited renditions of ‘Freeway of Love,’ ‘Jump to It,’ and ‘Chain of Fools.’ The latter is prominently placed in the latest trailer for the highly anticipated program.
Hear it inside:
In addition to Cynthia, ‘Genius’ also stars Courtney B. Vance, Malcolm Barrett, David Cross, Patrice Covington, Marque Richardson, and Kimberly Hébert Gregory.
Its premiere comes ahead of the unrelated Aretha Franklin big screen biopic that stars Academy & GRAMMY-award winner Jennifer Hudson. Click here to read more.
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Looks like a winner
This is TERRIBLE and ABYSMAL and most of all CULTURAL APPROPRIATION!!! MAY IT FLOP! She cannot even sing “Chain of Fools” like an American soul singer.
The British do it better, sweetie. Something about most Americans is too plastic.
Respect is NOT featured in this series. They didn’t even get the rights to most of Aretha’s most well known classics.
This is a lie Aretha did not write Respect. It was written by Otis Redding. It is in the series. Aretha wrote Chain of Fools and it is in the series. Stop spreading lies.
I’ll wait on “Respect” starring Jennifer Hudson. This is NOT it 🤦🏾♂️
That movie not out yet?
Show-stopping!
She comes off more Mary J. Blige than Aretha Franklin. This movie doesn’t seem to channel Aretha’s essence at all. I think the Jennifer Hudson movie will be much better than this one.
the whole time i thought i was watching Mary J. Blige
Pass her voice is too high and shrill to be Aretha
If you get pass her not looking like Aretha this actually looks good as hell.
All we gonna get with JHUD is Effie White 2.0. JHUD has no range as an actress.
Hate her or love her Cynthia can act her a$$ off!
I got my DVR set.
Who still uses a DVR lol…and furthermore Aretha chose Jennifer to portray her so………and a Cynthia sounds nothing like nor looks like Aretha
no thanks.
We’re good… it looks kinda boring