Omari Hardwick is opening up about whether he felt pressure to live up to the 2001 Muhammad Ali biopic while portraying the boxing legend’s father in Prime Video’s upcoming series, “The Greatest.”
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During an exclusive interview with Baller Alert, Hardwick and his co-star Dana Gourrier, who portrays Ali’s mother, Odessa “Bird” Clay, were asked whether the critically acclaimed film created additional expectations as they stepped into their roles.Rather than approaching the project as a competition with the earlier film, Hardwick acknowledged the foundation established by Will Smith, Jamie Foxx, and the original cast.
“It’s a great question. I feel like the, the setup of, like you said, we have a setup…and of course, Will Smith and company, Jamie Foxx included…They, they all did what was necessary to be done to set the stage for any sort of iteration that would follow. And I thought they did a great job with that.”
The 2001 film, directed by Michael Mann, followed Ali through some of the most defining moments of his career, including his relationship with Malcolm X, his refusal to serve in the Vietnam War, and his legendary 1974 victory over George Foreman. Smith earned an Academy Award nomination for his performance, while Foxx portrayed Ali’s longtime friend and assistant trainer, Drew “Bundini” Brown.
For Omari Hardwick, “The Greatest” provides an opportunity to explore the family relationships that helped shape Ali before he became a worldwide icon.
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“That prior iteration and/or any prior iterations did not introduce Odessa,” he said. “There wasn’t an introduction equally of his father. So there hasn’t necessarily been that delving into or fleshing out of the people who surrounded him.”
Although both parents appeared in the 2001 film, with Giancarlo Esposito portraying Cassius Clay Sr. and Candy Ann Brown playing Odessa, the new series places greater emphasis on their lives and influence.
Hardwick explained that he and Gourrier leaned on one another while developing their interpretations of Ali’s parents.
“And so Dana and I just kind of held each other’s hands and said, ‘Let’s just dive in,'” he added.
Gourrier echoed that sentiment, explaining how the cast had to balance the responsibility of portraying historical figures with the creative freedom to make the performances their own.
“We understand the gravity of the history. We understand how important this is, but at a certain point we had to release all of that and just go.”
Created by Cross showrunner Ben Watkins, “The Greatest” stars Jaalen Best as a young Cassius Clay, alongside Omari Hardwick as Cassius “Cash” Clay Sr. and Gourrier as Odessa. The cast also includes Kai Parham as Ali’s brother Rudy Clay, Michael Ealy as Malcolm X, and Amin Joseph as Sonny Liston.
Unlike the 2001 movie, which largely focuses on Ali’s rise to worldwide fame, the series explores his early years, including his 1960 Olympic gold medal victory and his journey toward becoming heavyweight champion in 1964. It also examines his upbringing in Louisville, Kentucky, and the family dynamics that shaped his identity and ambitions.
The project is the first authorized scripted television series about Ali, with his widow, Lonnie Ali, serving as an executive producer. Michael B. Jordan’s Outlier Society and Roc Nation are also involved in the production.
While comparisons to the 2001 biopic are inevitable, Hardwick and Gourrier are approaching the story through the perspective of the people who helped shape the legendary boxer long before the world knew him as “The Greatest.”
All eight episodes of “The Greatest” premiere November 4, 2026, on Prime Video.
