In the world of entertainment, there have been a number of projects based on incredible stories about geniuses. Take A Beautiful Mind or Good Will Hunting for example. They're both movies about unique individuals with high levels of intelligence that leave viewers marveling over what they achieved.
Well, NBC is tapping into that idea with their latest TV drama, Brilliant Minds. Set to premiere on Monday, September 23, 2024 at 10 p.m. ET, the series will follow fictional neurologist Dr. Oliver Wolf (Zachary Quinto) as he and his team of interns work to diagnose and treat individuals with various brain disorders.
The show is already causing a stir among viewers, as it will feature a number of famous guest stars like former Criminal Minds star Mandy Patinkin and Reba alum Steve Howey. And after watching the trailer, folks are already intrigued by the emotional connection and unusual methods Oliver uses to help his patients.
The first look at Brilliant Minds left us with one major question: Is Brilliant Minds based on a true story? As it turns out, Brilliant Minds' inspiration comes from a real-life medical professional — and this isn't the first time his work has been featured on-screen.
Is Brilliant Minds based on a true story?
According to NBC Insider, the basis for Brilliant Minds comes from the work of the late British neurologist and naturalist Dr. Oliver Sacks.
Born in July 1933 in London, Dr. Sacks was famous for working in the neurology department at Beth Abraham Hospital in the Bronx area of New York City. He primarily worked with those who survived the 1920s sleeping sickness called "encephalitis lethargica," which left victims paralyzed akin to a statue and oftentimes speechless and motionless. He later wrote the 1973 book Awakenings about his research findings, which was turned into a 1990 Academy Award-winning movie starring Robin Williams and Robert DeNiro.
NBC Insider writes that show creator Michael Grassi originally was given two of Dr. Sacks' books (The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat and An Anthropologist on Mars) when presented with the idea of making a show based on him. After reading the books which were filled with studies Dr. Sacks conducted, Michael was inspired to tell this story in the modern setting of the fictional Dr. Wolf mentoring neurology interns working at the Bronx General Hospital.
"There are so many incredible cases that we take from these books and then we set them in present day and have conversations that feel urgent and pressing with Oliver Sacks' incredible material," Michael explained in late July 2024. "The source material has been incredibly informative for what we're doing on the show."
How will Dr. Oliver Sacks' work be displayed on Brilliant Minds?
As for how Dr. Sacks' work will be seen throughout Brilliant Minds, the show will follow a different case in each episode of the first season. As each patient comes through Bronx General Hospital, Dr. Wolf will work with his students to identify the issue and find ways to help treat it.
"What Oliver Sacks did so well, is that he told incredible stories about people," Michael explained. "And that's the same thing we're doing on our show as patients come in and they're suffering from these strange, mysterious illnesses. But it's about them, and how do they move forward as a person? And it's about our doctors getting to know them. It's not just about the condition, it's about the person."
Zachary Quinto and Tamberla Perry on Brilliant Minds.
Although Dr. Sacks' actual case studies will be seen in some form on television, there's another unique element about him that folks will also get to see. According to Michael, some of Dr. Sacks' real-life quirks will be seen in Dr. Wolf as well.
"Oliver Sacks really did swim every day, which was a big part of what he did to keep himself focused and escape himself," Michael added. "It was such a big part of his life. Anecdotally, he was swimming in the Hudson River when he got out at City Island. He was just walking in his bathing suit and found what later became his clapboard home on City Island where he spent so much of his life."
Well, this has us totally intrigued, and we'll definitely be tuning in!
Adrianna Freedman
Editorial Assistant
As the entertainment and news editorial assistant for Good Housekeeping, Adrianna (she/her) writes about everything TV, movies, music and pop culture. She graduated from Yeshiva University with a B.A. in journalism and a minor in business management. She covers shows like The Rookie, 9-1-1 and Grey's Anatomy, though when she’s not watching the latest show on Netflix, she’s taking martial arts or drinking way too much coffee.