Ben Watkins is introducing audiences to a different side of Muhammad Ali in his new Prime Video series, “The Greatest,” revealing the personal story behind the boxing legend in a way that separates the project from the acclaimed 2001 film “Ali,” starring Will Smith.
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In an exclusive conversation with Baller Alert, the show’s creator and showrunner opened up about the challenge of telling a story that has already been explored on screen, especially when the subject is someone he has admired his entire life.For Watkins, the goal was never to simply recreate Ali’s most iconic moments. He wanted to explore the person who existed before the world knew him as “The Greatest.”
“What could I bring to the table that would be different and fresh, and as a lifelong fan of Muhammad Ali, I consumed everything, so that means it’s gonna be a tough challenge,” Watkins told Baller Alert.
That challenge became the foundation for the eight-episode series, which follows a young Cassius Clay beginning at age 18, shortly after his historic gold medal victory at the 1960 Olympics.
While Michael Mann’s 2001 film “Ali” explored the boxer’s extraordinary career from 1964 through 1974, including his heavyweight championship victories, religious convictions, and political battles, Watkins chose to begin earlier.
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The new series introduces viewers to a teenager still discovering himself, years before his name would become synonymous with greatness.
“And what I found was something that I think a lot of folks can relate to. When you say the name Muhammad Ali, you picture him as a fully formed legend, a fully formed, almost superhero,” Watkins explained.
For the showrunner, that larger-than-life reputation presented an opportunity to approach Ali’s story from an entirely different perspective.
“And I decided we need to disconnect people from that vision of him and introduce them to the real person, the actual kid who would one day become Muhammad Ali, and that’s why we start with him at 18.”
Rather than centering the narrative exclusively on championship fights and historic victories, The Greatest explores the relationships, community, and personal experiences that helped shape Ali’s identity.
Jaalen Best portrays the young Cassius Clay, with Omari Hardwick playing his father, Cassius Clay Sr., and Dana Gourrier portraying his mother, Odessa “Bird” Clay. Kai Parham stars as his brother Rudy Clay, while Michael Ealy takes on the role of Malcolm X.
The series also examines Ali’s early experiences navigating racism, religion, family expectations, and the growing pressures surrounding his boxing career.
Watkins believes exploring those experiences allows audiences to connect with the man behind the iconic personality.
“And with that we get to learn about his family, his community, and we also, in his coming of age, and it reminds us that this was somebody just like us with fears and dreams and vulnerabilities.”
Those vulnerabilities are central to the show’s approach. Ali’s confidence, charisma, and outspoken personality would eventually make him one of the most recognizable figures in the world, but Watkins wanted viewers to meet the young man before that public image was fully established.
The project also carries the involvement of Ali’s family. His widow, Lonnie Ali, serves as an executive producer, while Michael B. Jordan’s Outlier Society is among the production companies behind the series.
For viewers familiar with Will Smith’s celebrated portrayal, “The Greatest” offers another chapter of Ali’s journey, focusing on the formative years that preceded many of the events depicted in the film.
And for Watkins, seeing Ali as a human being rather than an untouchable icon only strengthens his legacy.
“And it makes us almost admire him even more.”
All eight episodes of “The Greatest” premiered on November 4, 2026, and are now streaming on Prime Video.
