AceShowbiz -

Season 2 of "Genius" has found its Pablo Picasso in international movie star Antonio Banderas. The sophomore season of National Geographic's anthology series will tackle the life of the renowned Spanish artist after the first season covers the life of Albert Einstein.

"The life story of Pablo Picasso has long since fascinated me and I have so much respect for this man, who also comes from my birthplace, Malaga," Banderas said in a statement. "I am thrilled to work with National Geographic, [executive producers] Brian [Grazer], Ron [Howard], Ken [Biller], and the rest of the Genius team to tell an authentic story of one of the most innovative painters in the world."

"Antonio was the natural choice. He, like Picasso, has a no-holds-barred approach to life that will add to the genuineness that we're looking for," Howard added. "He has such tremendous range as an actor, who I know will bring this brilliant and unconventional artist to life."

"From Pancho Villa to Ernesto 'Che' Guevara, Antonio has had such a successful track record in portraying real-life, larger-than-life iconic figures with such honesty and depth. And with Picasso, I'm looking forward to seeing his interpretation of the man behind the artistic greatness," Grazer went on saying.

Season 2 of "Genius" will follow both Picasso's professional and personal lives. It will chronicle the painter's tumultuous marriages, numerous affairs and constantly shifting political and personal alliances.

Howard previously revealed that Picasso was "a great choice" for season 2. "He was an enigmatic figure, famous, a household name, and yet you don’t really know the story of his life or what inspired him, drove him, troubled him, and how through the turbulence he achieved such artistic greatness in so many different ways and modalities and over so many year," he said.