'Hidden Figures' series in works at Nat Geo

Nat Geo has put in development a potential series inspired by the Oscar-nominated film "Hidden Figures".

The Theodore Melfi-directed historical film tells the untold true story of three brilliant African-American women working at NASA who served as the brains behind one of the greatest operations in history.

Based on Margot Lee Shetterly's book "Hidden Figures: The Story of the African-American Women Who Helped Win the Space Race", the film stars Taraji P Henson, Octavia Spencer and Janelle Monae as Katherine G Johnson, Dorothy Vaughan and Mary Jackson, respectively, who performed work that was crucial to American success in the space race and most impactfully, in the successful 1969 Apollo moon landing.

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, reported Variety.

The film was nominated for three Oscars, best film, adapted screenplay for Melfi and Allison Schroeder, and supporting actress for Spencer.