©Blood Brothers: Malcolm X & Muhammad Ali
The Greatest, a limited series about the late boxer Muhammad Ali is in the works. Jaalen Best will play the iconic pugilist who was originally known as Cassius Clay.
Ben Watkins will be the showrunner/executive producer of the series, for which Ali’s widow Lonnie Ali will also serve as executive producer. They will be working with Michael B. Jordan’s Outlier Society in collaboration with several other partners, including Amazon MGM Studios.
In announcing the project, Watkins was quoted as saying; “To be trusted with the honor of telling the story of my most cherished hero, Muhammad Ali, is humbling and scary, and a dream come true. I am filled with an overwhelming sense of pride, responsibility, and most of all, gratitude.”
Vernon Sanders, who heads television projects for Amazon MGM, declared that ”Muhammad Ali’s is an awe-inspiring story of one of the most significant global figures of the 20th century. We are proud to work with Ben alongside Outlier, Roc Nation, Polygram, Grace, Authentic Brands, Lonnie Ali, and the very talented Jaalen Best, who we know will do a remarkable job bringing The Greatest to life for our global Prime Video customers.”
Praising the choice of Jaalen West to portray her late husband, Lonnie Ali said, “I’m thrilled to be producing The Greatest alongside Ben Watkins who captured the essence and nuance of Muhammad. With Jaalen Best, we have uncovered a soulful gem. He is such a talented young man who not only embodies Muhammad, but exudes his resilience, courage, charisma and confidence.”
This will not be the first time Muhammad Ali will have appeared on big or small screens. He played himself in a 1977 film, also titled The Greatest. Over the years he was portrayed by several actors: Terrence Howard in King of the World, David Ramsey in Ali: An American Hero, Will Smith in Ali, and Eli Goree in One Night in Miami.
As Cassius Clay, Ali first came to prominence for his participation in the 1960 Olympics, winning a gold medal. Soon afterwards, he became a Muslim and supporter of the peace and civil-rights movements. Poet Marianne Moore wrote the liner notes to his 1963 record album I Am the Greatest. In 1964, he defeated Sonny Liston to become the world heavyweight champion, but was stripped of his title when he refused to be drafted into the armed forces as a conscientious objector. The Supreme Court later reversed his conviction. During the 1970s, he recaptured the heavyweight title. Muhammad Ali died in 2016 after struggling with Parkinson’s disease for more than thirty years.
Check out more of Edward’s articles.