The history of the complicated relationship of the famous American writer Thomas Wolfe and his editor, Max Perkins, who discovered the world of literary giants such as F. Scott Fitzgerald and Ernest Hemingway. In the role of Perkins - Oscar winner Colin Firth, his protege, Thomas Wolfe played twice Academy Award nominee Jude Law. They partnered with them three times Academy Award nominee Laura Linney, nominated for a Golden Globe, Guy Pearce as F. Scott Fitzgerald, twice nominated for a Golden Globe Dominic West as Ernest Hemingway and Oscar winner Nicole Kidman. "Genius" is based on the award-winning The prestigious National Book Award biography by Scott Berg Fri. "Max Perkins: Editor of Genius."

The collision of two unusual personalities, very different, and at the same time strongly interacting. When the first novel by Thomas Wolfe (Law) went into the hands of Max Perkins (Firth), this was already one of the most recognized publishers of his time. Calm and rather introverted Perkins was especially proud of his literary discovery, though Wolfe, with his unbridled talent and difficult to master personality, he did not facilitate his life. An unconventional friendship which they merged, changed the life of each of them forever.