National Geographic just released a special Genius Super Bowl TV spot in advance of Sunday’s big game. The 45-second spot will air immediately after Lady Gaga’s Super Bowl Halftime Show and features Albert Einstein (played by Geoffrey Rush) picking up his violin and playing a new version of Lady Gaga‘s “Bad Romance.”
The TV spot also announces Genius will premiere on National Geographic on April 25, 2017.
“We are excited to take this opportunity to promote our first-ever global scripted series, Genius, starring Geoffrey Rush and Emily Watson during one of America’s most-watched television events,” said Courteney Monroe, CEO, National Geographic Global Networks. “It’s a simple and engaging commercial that not only tapes into the zeitgeist of Lady Gaga’s highly anticipated halftime performance, but also perfectly represents the surprising side of Einstein the series captures. We hope it will cut through the noise, force viewers to take notice and give this broader audience a glimpse into the National Geographic brand of premium content.”
“We wanted to create a beautiful commercial that was true to the character of Albert Einstein,” said Eric Silver, Chief Creative Officer, North America, McCann. “We knew Einstein frequently played violin as a brainstorming technique. The timing of our placement immediately after Lady Gaga’s halftime performance felt like serendipity, giving us the perfect platform to bring the adored physicist to life in a memorable way.”
Genius is based on Einstein: His Life and Universe by Walter Isaacson and executive produced by director Ron Howard, Brian Grazer, and Francie Calfo. The cast includes Geoffrey Rush, Emily Watson as Elsa Einstein, and Johnny Flynn as the young Albert Einstein.
The Plot: Genius charts how Albert Einstein, an imaginative, rebellious patent clerk who struggled to land an academic post in his early years, went on to become the greatest scientific mind of the 20th century, all while juggling volatile, passionate and complex personal relationships. Ron Howard makes his prime-time television drama directorial debut with the series premiere episode.
And the previously released extended trailer:
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