Aretha Franklin's Family Slams NatGeo's 'Genius' Limited Series for Ignoring Them

It seems Netflix continues to be in the business of making new adaptations of books that were turned into classic thriller movies by Alfred Hitchcock. Last year saw the release of the disappointing new adaptation of “Rebecca,” and now, the streaming is developing a new adaptation of “The 39 Steps” as a limited series, with Benedict Cumberbatch starring.

Benedict Cumberbatch is filling up his roster with another limited series project.

EXCLUSIVE: The story of pool phenom Danny Basavich (aka Kid Delicious) is in the works for the small screen. Emmy-winning writer Todd Robinson (White Squall) and producer Rocky Lang have acquired Basavich’s life rights  to develop an eight-episode limited series.

EXCLUSIVE: Scandal alum Cornelius Smith Jr. has been tapped as a lead opposite Vera Farmiga and Adepero Oduye in Five Days at Memorial, Apple TV+’s limited series from John Ridley, Carlton Cuse and ABC Signature.

Elaine Low Senior TV WriterNetflix has ordered “The 39 Steps,” a limited series based on the 1915 John Buchan novel that will star Benedict Cumberbatch, with Edward Berger at the helm and Mark L.

EXCLUSIVE: Netflix has landed The 39 Steps, a limited series star vehicle for Benedict Cumberbatch. Edward Berger, who previously teamed with Cumberbatch on Patrick Melrose, will direct and The Revenant scribe Mark L. Smith will write the series. It’s an update of the classic thriller novel by John Buchan that was famously turned into the 1935 film classic by Alfred Hitchcock.

The Comedy and Drama Series categories are filled with questions about what programs will fill out the eight slots allotted for each, but the Limited Series race is a battle royale for just five nominees. It’s so competitive there are arguably only two locks, “The Queen’s Gambit” and “WandaVision.” And there are two “should be” locks in “I May Destroy You” and “Small Axe,” but, sadly, neither is guaranteed to make the five.

Adepero Oduye (The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, Pariah) has been tapped as a lead opposite Vera Farmiga in Five Days At Memorial, Apple TV+’s limited series from John Ridley, Carlton Cuse and ABC Signature. The project reunites 12 Years a Slave co-star Oduye with the Oscar-winning movie’s writer Ridley.

EXCLUSIVE: Jodie Turner-Smith has departed Netflix’s six-part, live-action limited series The Witcher: Blood Origin. She was to play a lead, Éile, in the prequel to the streamer’s hit series The Witcher.

Nick Offerman has been tapped to co-star opposite Lily James, Sebastian Stan and Seth Rogen in Pam & Tommy, Hulu’s limited series based on the true story behind the release of the first ever viral video in history — the sex tape of Pamela Anderson and Tommy Lee.

The Comedy and Drama Series categories are filled with questions about what programs will fill out the eight slots allotted for each, but the Limited Series race is a battle royale for just five nominees. It’s so competitive there are arguably only two locks, “The Queen’s Gambit” and “WandaVision.” And there are two “should be” locks in “I May Destroy You” and “Small Axe,” but, sadly, neither is guaranteed to make the five.

Daniel Zovatto (Penny Dreadful: City of Angels) and Lori Petty (Orange Is the New Black) are set as series regulars in HBO Max’s Station Eleven, a 10-episode post-apocalyptic limited drama series based on the international bestseller by Emily St. John Mandel. Andy McQueen (Books of Blood), David Cross (Arrested Development), Enrico Colantoni (Veronica Mars) and Julian Obradors (Mayans, M.C.) will recur on the series, from Maniac creator Patrick Somerville and Paramount TV Studios.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterColin Firth will play Michael Peterson in a series adaptation of “The Staircase,” which has been ordered to series at HBO Max.HBO Max has ordered eight episodes of the limited series, which is based on the docuseries of the same name and various books and reports on the Peterson case. Peterson was accused of murdering his wife, Kathleen, in 2001.

EXCLUSIVE: Michael Showalter (The Big Sick) is set to direct multiple episodes of Hulu’s limited drama series The Dropout based on ABC News/ABC Radio’s podcast about the rise and fall of Elizabeth Holmes. Showalter also will executive produce the series, from Disney Television Studios’ 20th Television and Searchlight, along with his Semi-Formal Productions producing partner Jordana Mollick.

EXCLUSIVE: Gil Bellows (Patriot, American Gods) has been cast opposite Adrienne Warren and Glynn Turman in ABC’s limited series Women of the Movement, from creator-writer Marissa Jo Cerar and a producing team that includes Jay-Z, Will Smith and Aaron Kaplan.

Chris Willman Music WriterThere is even more genius to go around in the story that “Genius: Aretha Franklin” tells than just Aretha’s own. Her classic records wouldn’t have stood the test of more than four and five decades without the chemistry she and her voice formed with the musicians that gave the music its masterful groove.

the Queen of Soul! In celebration of iconic songstress Aretha Franklin, on what would have been her 79th birthday, the two acclaimed actresses portraying her in upcoming biopics are honoring her legacy.Jennifer Hudson took to Instagram on Thursday to show the progress of her mural of Franklin's face, created in spray paint.«Royalty! Sharing the making of My Aretha Franklin, Queen of Soul mural in honor of the Queens birthday on today!» wrote Hudson, who portrays Franklin in the upcoming biopic

There was no one quite like Aretha Franklin. The powerhouse singer, dubbed the “Queen of Soul,” paved the way for so many artists during her time as a lauded entertainer. Breaking barriers and creating some of the biggest hits in music history, Aretha was a towering force in the Civil Rights movement and beyond. On what would have been the Queen of Soul’s 79th birthday, let’s take a look back at her life in photographs and some of the highlights of her brilliant career.

Aretha Franklin's family is unhappy with the music legend's latest depiction. The "Respect" singer is the subject of the third season of National Geographic's popular anthology series "Genius," which will air two episodes on Tuesday and conclude the season with two more episodes on Wednesday.