Michael B. Jordan-Produced Muhammad Ali TV Series Sets Release Date

The Michael B. Jordan-produced Muhammad Ali limited series, The Greatest, now has an official release date. According to Deadline, the date was revealed Saturday during a presentation at the Essence Festival of Culture, with creator, showrunner and exec producer Ben Watkins on-hand, alongside star Jaalen Best, and cast Dana Gourrier, Amin Joseph, Kai Parham and Michael Ealy. 

The Greatest stars Best as Ali, and the series is a look at the life of the boxing champion and global icon. The series is executive produced by Lonnie Ali, the widow of the late legend. The Greatest is the first authorized scripted series about the life of Ali. The eight-episode series will feature defining moments in his life and career, in and out of the ring.

The eight-episode drama premieres on November 4 and has Oscar-winning actor Jordan as an executive producer, with Watkins serving as creator. The cast is led by Best as Ali, with the series also starring Giovanni Ribisi (Sneaky Pete), Omari Hardwick (Army of the Dead), Dana Gourrier (The Hateful Eight), Amin Joseph (Snowfall), Erica Tazel (Justified), Michael Ealy (Power Book II: Ghost), Reno Wilson (Mike & Molly), Aleks Paunovic (Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency) and Dave Davis (Emancipation).

“It’s a show that’s designed to show you all the stuff that wasn’t in documentaries and isn’t available in terms of watching old fights and old interviews,” Watkins previously said. "We filmed Season 1, which starts in 1960 when he wins the gold medal and ends in 1964 when he wins the heavyweight title for the first time. In between, there is a coming-of-age story, and a very intimate coming of age story, that really shows a different side of Ali, who was then Cassius Clay.”

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