Kelvin Harrison Jr. and Aaron Pierre Transform into Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X in ‘GENIUS: MLK/X’ Official Trailer

Ahead of GENIUS: MLK/X’s February 1st premiere, Nat Geo released the official trailer for the series. This eight-part series, which focuses on the iconic figures Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X, will stream on Disney+ and Hulu on February 2, following its National Geographic premiere.

READ: Check out the Full Cast List For The Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X Series Genius: MLK/X

The ensemble cast features Kelvin Harrison Jr. as Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Aaron Pierre as Malcolm X, Weruche Opia as Coretta Scott King, and Jayme Lawson as Betty Shabazz. The series also features one of the final roles of Emmy-winning actor Ron Cephas Jones.

Setting the series apart from other retellings, GENIUS: MLK/X explores simultaneously the formative years, pioneering accomplishments, dueling philosophies and key personal relationships of both Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. (Kelvin Harrison Jr.) and Malcolm X (Aaron Pierre). While King advanced racial equality through nonviolent activism, X advocated for Black empowerment, identity and self-determination. The eight-part series also brings their wives, Coretta Scott King (Weruche Opia) and Betty Shabazz (Jayme Lawson), to the forefront and shows them as formidable equals of the Movement. While King and X met only once and often challenged each other’s views, the two visionaries, with their wives leading by their sides, ultimately rose to pioneer a movement that lives on today.

Notably, the production gives due prominence to their wives, Coretta Scott King and Betty Shabazz, who are often portrayed as peripheral figures, recognizing their vital contributions to the Civil Rights Movement.

Check out the trailer below.

GENIUS: MLK/X marks a significant departure for the Emmy Award-winning anthology series by spotlighting the lives and philosophies of these two Civil Rights Movement leaders. The show is produced by 20th Television and is led by executive producers Brian Grazer and Ron Howard’s Imagine Television, along with Raphael Jackson Jr. and Damione Macedon, who also serve as showrunners. Reggie Rock Bythewood and Gina Prince-Bythewood’s Undisputed Cinema are pivotal in bringing this project to life.

Ambassador Shabazz, the producer, writer, diplomat, and eldest daughter of Dr. Betty Shabazz and Malcolm X Shabazz, served as a consulting producer, contributing to historical authenticity. A distinguished panel of historians and experts also provided valuable insights, ensuring the series accurately portrays this transformative period in American history.

“GENIUS: MLK/X” promises to be a thought-provoking addition to the acclaimed anthology series, offering a closer look at the lives and legacies of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X, shedding light on their humanity and their contributions to the Civil Rights Movement.