Nat Geo is developing a series inspired by the film Hidden Figures. The film was itself based on the book of the same name by Margot Lee Shetterly, which told the true story of the black female mathematicians who were instrumental in the early days of the American space program.
The 2016 film starred Taraji P. Henson, Octavia Spencer, Janelle Monáe, Kevin Costner, Kirsten Dunst, and Jim Parsons. It was nominated for three Academy Awards, including best picture, and grossed over $235 million worldwide.The TV project, which is in the early stages of development, will be executive produced by Peter Chernin and Jenno Topping of Chernin Entertainment, both of whom executive produced the film. National Geographic will also produce.
Should the project go to series, it would be the latest in Nat Geo’s continuing push into scripted fare. The cable network, a joint venture between National Geographic and 21st Century Fox, is about to debut the second season of the scripted series Genius on April 24. The first season–which was nominated for 10 Emmys–starred Geoffrey Rush as Albert Einstein, while Season 2 will see Antonio Banderas playing Pablo Picasso. Nat Geo also debuted the Iraq War miniseries The Long Road Home back in November.
