The series comes from executive producer Michael B. Jordan and executive producer/showrunner Ben Watkins (pictured below, embedded).
The series showcases defining moments in Ali’s life and career – both in and out of the ring – that have been well documented, as well as moments that took place outside of the spotlight. The world remembers the icon, but Suurin is about a man, a husband, a father, a brother and a son.
It is produced by Michael B. Jordan’s Outlier Society, which has an overall deal with Amazon MGM Studios, Watkins’ Blue Monday Productions, Authentic Studios, Roc Nation, Universal Music Group partner Polygram Entertainment and Grace: A Storytelling Company. Ali’s widow Lonnie Ali as executive producer.
“Muhammad Ali’s is the awe-inspiring story of one of the most important world figures of the 20th century,” said Vernon Sanders, head of television at Amazon MGM Studios. “We are proud to be working with Ben at 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 worldwide Prime Video customers.”
Watkins has paired The Greatest with another Prime Video series. He is the executive producer and showrunner of Cross, based on the characters of James Patterson’s bestseller Alex Cross.
“It is humbling and terrifying to be entrusted with the honor of telling the story of my most beloved hero, Muhammad Ali, and the fulfillment of dreams,” he said. “I am filled with an overwhelming sense of pride, responsibility and, above all, gratitude.”
Lonnie Ali talked about Best’s casting as the late husband.
“I am thrilled to be producing The Greatest with Ben Watkins, who has captured the essence and nuance of Muhammad,” he said. “We have found a soulful gem in Jaalen Best. He is such a talented young man who not only embodies Muhammad, but also radiates his tenacity, courage, charisma and confidence.”
Fellow executive producer Josh Wakely spent years working on The Greatest, securing the rights to Ali’s life story and bringing the project to Amazon.
“It has been a longtime dream to tell Ali’s remarkable life story as a television series, which is the only way to truly capture his greatness, and I am grateful to Lonnie and the assembled team who also share the passion to bring the Greatest to the screen,” he said.
In addition to Watkins and Jordan, Outlier Society president Elizabeth Raposo will produce. Lonnie Ali serves as executive producer for the series along with Corey Salter, Marc Rosen and Matthew Gross of Authentic Brand Group.
Other top producers include Roc Nation; Michele Anthony, Boyd Muir and Polygram executive producers David Blackman; and Josh Wakely via Grace: A Storytelling Company. Stefano Agosto, Outlier Society’s vice president of television operations, also oversees the project on behalf of Outlier.
The Greatest is produced by Amazon MGM Studios in association with Outlier Society, Authentic Studios, Blue Monday Productions, Roc Nation, Polygram Entertainment and Grace: A Storytelling Company.
Ali’s major screen credits include himself in the 1977 film The Greatest, Terrence Howard in the 2000 ABC film King of the World, David Ramsey in the Fox film Ali: An American Hero, Will Smith in the 2001 biopic Ali, and Eli. Goree in the 2020 Amazon Prime movie One Night in Miami.
Jaalen has starred in CW’s All American: Homecoming, FX’s American Horror Stories on Hulu, and CBS/NBC’s Magnum, PI.