He’s known as the greatest of all time, and now the life ofMuhammad Aliwill be explored in the new scripted series,The Greatest, which has been greelit by Amazon for its streaming service,Prime Video. Asthe first-ever authorized scripted series to focus on the boxing icon,The Greatestwill examine Ali’s achievementsboth in and out of the ring, while at the same time focusing onthe complicated individual he was right upuntil his death in 2016. Becoming the first boxer to win the world heavyweight championship on three separate occasions, Muhammad Ali is widely regarded as the best to ever do it, and to this day,he still serves as an inspiration for many around the globe.
As perVariety,The Greatestsees Ali’s widow, Lonnie Ali, serving as executive producer on the series,which will star Jaalen Best (American Horror Stories,Magnum P.I.) as Muhammad Ali, the man who perfected the rope-a-dope technique. Alsoinvolved in the production isCreedstar Michael B. Jordan, who will produce through his Outlier Society banner. There’s no word yet onif he’ll make an appearance in the series, which you’re able to check out the synopsis for below.
The amazing victories and defeats that made Ali a legend, both in and out of the ring, have been well documented and while those landmark events will live in The Greatest, the heartbeat of the story is fueled by all the moments that took place outside of the spotlight. The world remembers an icon, but The Greatest is about a man, a husband, a father, a brother and a son.
In a statement released by Vernon Sanders, head of television at Amazon MGM Studios, he called Ali one of the“most significant global figures of the 20th century,”while at the same time showing complete faith that the team beingThe Greatest– which includesCrossshowrunner Ben Watkins – will do an amazing jobbringing Ali’s story to life. He’s not wrong in touting Ali as such, as the superstar was not only known for his accomplishments in the ring,but for his humanitarian and philanthropic work outside of it as well, which saw Ali donate millions to charity over the course of his life, and work tirelesslyto help feed millions of people around the world affected by hunger.
“Muhammed Ali defined commitment and passion for multiple generations of Americans. His journey is best told in full by a team whose dedication reflects that example. 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.”
Ben Watkinsis no stranger to scripted dramas, as he currently serves as showrunner on the upcoming James Patterson series,Cross, which hasalready been renewed for a second seasonat Amazonahead of its premiere on June 27, 2025. He was also responsible for creating the previous Prime Video series,Hand of God, starring Ron Perlman, and served as both writer and producer on the showsBurn Notice,Truth Be Told, andWu-Tang: An American Saga. For him,bringing Muhammad Ali’s story to life inThe Greatestis a dream come true.
“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.”
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Muhammad Ali has been played in the past by a number of actors, including Will Smith in the 2001 biopicAli, Darius McCrary in the 1997 HBO movieDon King: Only in America, and MCU alumnus Terrance Howard in the 2000 TV movieAli: An American Hero. According to Lonnie Ali, The Greatest has"uncovered a soulful gem"in star Jaalen Best, who she saysembodies some of Muhammad Ali’s best attributes.
“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.”
There’s no word yet on who else is cast alongside Best inThe Greatest, or when the series might premiere.We’ll have more news on the series as it develops.
