Michael B. Jordan and the cast of Prime Video’s The Greatest stepped out at Regal Times Square in New York City on Tuesday, October 27, for the premiere of the first authorized scripted series about the life of Muhammad Ali.
The series debuts all eight episodes on November 4, exclusively on Prime Video.
Jordan, who executive produces the series, was joined by creator, executive producer, and showrunner Ben Watkins and executive producer Lonnie Ali, the wife of the late champion and interim president and CEO of the Muhammad Ali Center.
Jordan’s ties to the project go back more than five years. In February 2021, as his production company Outlier Society expanded its overall deal with Amazon, Jordan revealed the Ali series as one of its headline projects, made in partnership with the Ali estate and Jay-Z’s Roc Nation, Deadline reported at the time.
“It’s an incredible honor and I bring tons of respect to it,” Jordan told Deadline. “It’s a project where we’ve partnered with the estate and we’ll be able to tell this story with no red tape.”
Despite his own history in the ring as Adonis Creed in the Creed franchise, Jordan ruled out playing Ali himself. “And no, I’m not playing that guy, I can say that for sure,” he said.
Jaalen Best, who plays Cassius Clay, later Muhammad Ali, walked the carpet alongside Omari Hardwick (Cassius Clay Sr.), Dana Gourrier (Odessa “Bird” Clay), Kai Parham (Rudy Clay), Amin Joseph (Sonny Liston), and Giovanni Ribisi (Angelo Dundee). Michael Ealy, who plays Malcolm X, was there too.
Professional wrestler Chris Jericho, who guest stars in the series, and musician Wyclef Jean rounded out the guest list.
Once the carpet wrapped and the audience took their seats, Watkins and Lonnie Ali gave what Prime Video called an emotional introduction to the first two episodes, which screened for a packed, enthusiastic theater. The celebration then moved to STORIED NYC for the after party.
The Greatest is billed as an intimate exploration of the life of the boxing champion, humanitarian, and global icon. With Lonnie Ali on board as an executive producer, the series promises unprecedented access to his story.
According to Prime Video, the show goes beyond the victories and defeats that made Ali a legend, both in and out of the ring. Amazon says that includes his life as a husband, father, brother, and son.
The series comes from Watkins’ Blue Monday Productions and Jordan’s Outlier Society, alongside Authentic Studios, Roc Nation, PolyGram Entertainment, and Grace: A Storytelling Company.
For now, the countdown is on, with all eight episodes of The Greatest arriving on Prime Video on November 4.
With the Ali family’s blessing and a cast this deep, the series has a real shot at becoming the definitive screen portrait of the man who told the world he was the greatest.
Photo by Jason Mendez/Getty Images for Prime Video
