Exclusive: Kenny Burns Talks Bringing Atlanta’s Underground Heist to the Big Screen at ‘Fight Night’ Premiere

Baller Alert correspondent Nya recently caught up with Kenny Burns, co-executive producer of the highly-anticipated series Fight Night, at the star-studded premiere in New York. The series dives into the legendary heist that shook Atlanta’s underground scene in the ’70s and features a stellar cast, including Kevin Hart, Melvin Gregg, Chloe Bailey, and more. Burns shared his journey in bringing this incredible true story to the screen and how the project has evolved over the years.

Digging Into Atlanta’s Underground

When asked about the process of unearthing this notorious tale, Burns revealed that the story has been a whispered legend in Atlanta for decades.

“The real story has been talked about in the underground of Atlanta for years. I came to Atlanta in ’92 to attend Morris Brown College—shout out to my alma mater, which just got re-accredited,” Burns began with pride. “But I would always hear this story, and I didn’t really know much about it. Then, I met Jeff Keating, who had the life rights to the story, and he blew me away with the details.”

Burns went on to explain that this was a project nearly 20 years in the making. His early discussions with Keating happened in the early 2000s, but it wasn’t until he was involved with Revolt TV that things started to really move.

“In 2013, when I was launching Revolt TV, Andre Harrell came to me like, ‘We need content! What movies you want to make?’ That’s when I reconnected with Jeff, and we were ready to go, but things didn’t work out there,” he shared. “Eventually, the project landed with Will Packer, and the rest is history.”

The Journey From Feature Film to Series

Burns also shared the rollercoaster ride of bringing Fight Night to the screen. At one point, it was set to be a major feature film at Universal Pictures, but competing projects caused delays.

“We were set up at Universal, but then Kevin Hart and Chadwick Boseman had another project called Uptown Saturday Night, which was loosely based on Fight Night. So, our film got shelved,” Burns explained. “But everything worked out because we did a podcast for the 50th anniversary of the heist, and that got everyone excited again. Now, here we are with a phenomenal series.”

With a powerhouse cast that includes rising stars and legends alike, Burns couldn’t be more excited. “We’ve got Melvin Gregg, Chloe Bailey, Lori Harvey, Myles Bullock, Cinco—it’s such an incredible lineup,” he said. “This is more than just a comedy, it’s a crime drama, and it’s truly going to surprise people.”

Kevin Hart’s Breakthrough Role

When asked about Kevin Hart’s portrayal of “Chicken Man,” one of the key figures in the heist, Burns had nothing but praise for the comedian-turned-actor.

“Kevin Hart is about to get his acting flowers with this role. Chicken Man, who he plays, eventually became Reverend Gordon in real life. So, when Jeff Keating and I got into this, we had to figure out how Kevin would bring that evolution to life,” Burns explained. “And let me tell you, Kevin became Chicken Man. I’m so proud of him.”

Preserving Black Oral Histories

Nya closed the interview by asking Burns about the importance of bringing these oral histories to life, particularly given his background as a radio personality and storyteller.

“It’s crucial to humanize our stories,” Burns emphasized. “Too often, we get boxed in as hustlers or gangsters. But these guys were politicians, athletes, and businessmen. It’s about what you do with the opportunities you have and how you pave the way for others. Frank Moten, one of the key figures in Fight Night, almost had Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport named after him. Imagine that—a former gangster having an airport named after him.”

Burns continued, “It’s not always about how you get into the game, it’s about what you do to perfect it and make room for others.”

With Fight Night set to become one of the most talked-about shows of the year, Kenny Burns and his team have not only revived a nearly forgotten story but also redefined how Black history and culture can be told on-screen.

“We’re creating something for the culture, and that’s what I’m most proud of,” Burns said in closing.