Ali has been dramatized before, but rarely with this much access. Prime Video’s The Greatest comes from Ben Watkins, the creator of Hand of God and showrunner of Cross, with Michael B. Jordan on board as executive producer. The limited series follows Muhammad Ali through the wins, the fights outside the ring and everything that made him the most famous athlete of his century. Newcomer Jaalen Best takes on the role, which is about as big a first swing as an actor can get.
What sets it apart is who’s behind it. Ali’s widow, Lonnie Ali, produced the series in collaboration with his estate, and the result is one of the most thorough portraits of the man Hollywood has managed so far. All eight episodes dropped Wednesday on Prime Video, so the weekend is spoken for.
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