Photo Credit:Associated Press
Production. Officially began on The Greatest, Prime Video’s eagerly awaited limited series about the life of Muhammad Ali. Production began in Toronto and Cobourg, Ontario, on what will be the first sanctioned scripted dramatization of the life of the boxing legend. The eight-episode series seeks to explore not just the fighter the world grew to love, but the man behind the myth—father, husband, brother, and son.
Showrunner Ben Watkins (Cross, Hand of God) is also set to direct the pilot and second episode. His Blue Monday Productions banner is leading the creative charge. He is assisted by executive producers like Michael B. Jordan (through his Outlier Society imprint), Lonnie Ali (wife of Muhammad Ali), and a multicultural team of industry veterans from Roc Nation, Authentic Studios, Polygram Entertainment, and Grace: A Storytelling Company.
Jaalen Best takes on the monumental role of Muhammad Ali. Best, who spent time in Ali’s hometown of Louisville with Lonnie Ali, is expected to bring an emotionally grounded portrayal to the screen. Rounding out the lead cast are Omari Hardwick and Dana Gourrier as Ali’s parents, Cassius Clay Sr. And Odessa “Bird” Clay, respectively. Kai Parham plays Rudy Clay, Ali’s brother and fellow boxer. Amin Joseph appears as Sonny Liston, one of Ali’s most memorable rivals. Michael Ealy will take on the recurring role of civil rights leader Malcolm X.
According to Amazon, the series will portray not only Ali’s public milestones—the Olympic gold medal, the Liston fights, his Vietnam War protest, and the Rumble in the Jungle—but also lesser-known, private moments that shaped the man he became.
Watkins, most recently the showrunner of Prime Video’s break-out hit Cross, is far from new to directing drama and action on the show. His production company Blue Monday Productions is also home to a Breakthrough Artist Program offering apprenticeships for up-and-coming directors, writers, and producers—beefing up the show’s underlying mission for representation and building legacy.
With exclusive access to Ali’s estate and creative input from those who knew him best, The Greatest aims to be as personal as it is epic. The series will stream globally on Prime Video, bringing Muhammad Ali’s journey to audiences in over 240 countries and territories.
This isn’t just a story about boxing. It’s about conviction, love, and transformation. And it’s long overdue.