Jaalen Best Leads New Series Depicting Muhammad Ali’s Early Career

Prime Video will stream the complete series The Greatest on November 4. The biographical drama focuses on the early life of Cassius Clay, depicting his rise from an 18-year-old Olympic gold medalist in Rome to the heavyweight champion who defeated Sonny Liston in 1964. The show stars Jaalen Best as the young boxer.

Creator Ben Watkins, known for the series Cross, structured the narrative around Clay’s transformation into Muhammad Ali. The storyline bookends these two pivotal boxing victories. The series explores how Clay’s identity shifted during this period, marking the start of a spiritual journey that changed both his faith and his name. Watkins aimed to avoid the common pitfalls of biographical dramas by addressing the difficult aspects of Ali’s personal history rather than presenting a simplified hero’s journey.

The production features a cast that includes Dana Gourrier as Clay’s mother, Odessa, and Omari Hardwick as his father, Cash. The character of Cash is portrayed as a former artist who settled for painting signs and struggled with alcohol. Kai Parham plays Rudy, Clay’s younger brother, who is also a boxer. The series highlights the family dynamics in Louisville, Kentucky, where Clay returned from Italy to a segregated hometown. This setting contrasts with the relative reprieve from anti-Black racism he experienced in Rome.

Lonnie Ali, the widow of the late champion, serves as an executive producer for the project. Michael B. Jordan, who portrayed a boxer in the Creed films, is also an executive producer. The involvement of these figures raises expectations for the project, given the history of Ali portrayals in film. The Greatest distinguishes itself by focusing on the period before the 1964 championship fight, a moment already depicted in the 2001 film Ali and the 2020 film One Night in Miami. By ending where those previous productions began, the series traces the formation of the public figure known as Muhammad Ali.

The narrative addresses the systemic disadvantages faced by Clay as a Black working-class athlete. The show depicts the skepticism he encountered from promoters and coaches who questioned his work ethic. Angelo Dundee, played by Giovanni Ribisi, serves as a key mentor figure. The series also includes a cameo by Chris Jericho as the professional wrestler Gorgeous George, who influences Clay’s showmanship. These elements combine to explain how Clay developed the confidence to challenge established norms in the boxing world.

The series contrasts Clay with his opponent Sonny Liston, played by Amin Joseph. Liston is depicted as an ex-con and abuse survivor who internalized societal stereotypes. The show explores the psychological dynamics of their rivalry, including the taunts used in the ring. Watkins uses these interactions to examine themes of integrity and self-worth. The production balances these complex character studies with the standard structure of a biographical drama, offering a detailed look at the origins of a sports legend.