'Genius: MLK/X' stars talk about honor playing the iconic civil rights leaders

Kelvin Harrison Jr. and Aaron Pierre spoke with ABC News' Linsey Davis about the challenges of portraying Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X.

The latest season of the Nat Geo channel drama "Genius" focuses on the parallels of the lives of Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X and their fights for civil rights.

Actors Kelvin Harrison Jr, who plays King, and Aaron Pierre, who plays X, spoke with ABC News Live's Linsey Davis about taking on the iconic roles in "Genius: MLK/X" which premieres Tuesday.

ABC NEWS LIVE: Gentlemen, thank you so much for coming on the show. I kind of want to start out with a question for both of you. Obviously, these are two of arguably thee most well-known men in American history, and they've also been portrayed by some really phenomenal actors. And so I'm curious when you take on this assignment, is it daunting?

AARON PIERRE: Absolutely. I think, and we appreciate you highlighting that. I remember when I was first contacted by Gina Prince-Bythewood and Reggie Rock Bythewood, the executive producers on this limited series, and they offered me the role of portraying Malcolm X, and I was terrified. I questioned whether I had the capacity. I questioned whether I had the endurance, the stamina, the emotional intelligence to portray the great Malcolm X.