National Geographic Channel is venturing into scripted series territory, and for their first drama, the cable network has cast Geoffrey Rush to play Albert Einstein.
The Aussie will take on the role of the famed physicist for anthology drama Genius, according to The Hollywood Reporter. It will be Rush”s first major American series television role. (He did win an Emmy for HBO-BBC collaboration The Life and Death of Peter Sellers, a TV movie that aired in 2004.)
The first season of the anthology series is based on the acclaimed Einstein biography by Walter Isaacson. Ron Howard is directing the first episode of Genius, and Howard”s longtime collaborator Brian Grazer is producing.
The Oscar winner who so entertained us with Shakespeare in Love and Pirates of the Caribbean seems like a solid fit for the iconic scientist. He probably won”t even have to wear a wig for Einstein”s recognizable hair. His German accent we heard in The Book Thief may need a bit of work though.
Playing young Einstein in the 10-episode series is newcomer Johnny Flynn. Genius is expected to premiere in 2017.