PaleyImpact: National Geographic's Genius: MLK/X New York Premiere & Discussion

Producers and cast members gather on February 1, 2024 for PaleyImpact: National Geographic's Genius: MLK/X New York Premiere & Discussion, moderated by Jericka Duncan. Panel topics include: how the actors were affected professionally and personally by working on the project; the import of a script showing that activists Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X were not rivals; the decision to ensure that Betty Shabazz and Coretta Scott King were also explored as civil rights icons; the benefit of shooting the series in Atlanta, Georgia; producers' decision to cast the twentysomething Harrison as King so that he could tap into King's accomplishments as a young man; why Pierre was initially ""terrified"" to portray Malcolm X; and how Harrison quickly gained 40 pounds for the role.

Participants: executive producers/showrunners Raphael Jackson Jr. and Damione Macedon; cast members, Kelvin Harrison Jr. (Martin Luther King Jr.), Aaron Pierre (Malcolm X), Weruche Opia (Coretta Scott King), Jayme Lawson (Betty Shabazz), Griffin Matthews (Bayard Rustin).

Moderator: Jericka Duncan, CBS News National Correspondent.& Anchor, CBS Weekend News.

Host: Diane Lewis, Chief Programming Officer and Executive Vice President, The Paley Center for Media.