Through untold stories, complicated family relationships, and the people who helped shape him, the cast of Prime Video’s The Greatest explores the making of Muhammad Ali.
The world knows Muhammad Ali as The Greatest. The legendary boxer was a champion inside the ring, a fearless activist outside of it, and a man whose confidence, charisma, and convictions made him one of the most influential figures of the 20th century. But before he became a global icon, he was Cassius Clay, a young man still discovering the power of his own voice.
That transformation is at the heart of The Greatest, Prime Video’s upcoming eight-episode series chronicling Ali’s life, from his early days in Louisville to the emergence of the man who would forever change boxing and American culture. The first authorized scripted series about Ali, the drama aims to move beyond the victories and public persona to explore the relationships, experiences, and personal struggles that helped shape the legend.
For Jaalen Best, who takes on the monumental role of Cassius Clay and Muhammad Ali, that distinction was particularly meaningful.
“It was a lot of stories we’ve never heard before, so it was fascinating reading the script,” Best shares. “I was like, what I never knew this conversation was had.”
The discovery allowed Best to approach the character from a different perspective, separating the Muhammad Ali audiences have come to know from the young Cassius Clay who was still becoming him.
“So it allowed me to really backtrack a little bit and to really separate Muhammad Ali as we know him, to the young Cassius Clay, the becoming,” he says.
It’s a distinction that speaks to the series’ central appeal — rather than simply revisiting a familiar sports icon, The Greatest explores the making of a man whose legacy was built long before the world began calling him a legend.
And while Ali’s confidence was one of his most recognizable qualities, Best believes it was also one of his most valuable lessons.
When asked what quality he would borrow from Ali, Best immediately points to the champion’s unwavering belief in himself.
“I think it would be the confidence,” he says. “To talk about myself in that way, to truly believe I am the greatest and I’m not just trying to be mediocre and be comfortable.”
For Best, Ali’s confidence wasn’t simply about declaring himself the best boxer in the world. It was about refusing to settle for less than what he believed he could accomplish.
“I want to push further and make a mark on people and make a mark on this world that will live on forever.”
That ambition is explored through the people who surrounded Ali during his formative years, including his family, mentors, and the influential figures who helped shape his personal and political identity.
Omari Hardwick plays Cassius Clay Sr., while Dana Gourrier portrays Ali’s mother, Odessa “Bird” Clay. Kai Parham takes on the role of Ali’s younger brother, Rudy Clay, bringing the family dynamic into focus as the young boxer begins to pursue his destiny.
For Gourrier, one of the most powerful aspects of the story is the tension between potential and circumstance, particularly when it comes to Cassius Clay Sr.
“There’s a moment where Cass [Cassius Clay Sr.] says, ‘another time, another place’ when they were talking about him being a painter,” Gourrier recalls.
“It’s so heart wrenching because you see all the potential energy in this man, you see all the talent, all the promise and he’s got to hold it and there’s no place for him to express it or release it.”
The moment highlights the generational complexities within the Clay family, reminding audiences that Ali’s story is also one of inherited dreams, frustrations, and sacrifices. His father’s unrealized ambitions offer another perspective on the forces that shaped the young boxer, while underscoring the limitations imposed on Black Americans during the era.
That larger social and political context is further explored through the presence of Malcolm X, portrayed by Michael Ealy.
For Ealy, stepping into the role of the influential civil rights leader carries a profound sense of responsibility.
“To play Malcolm [Malcolm X] in this day and age is like a dream come true and it really is an honor,” he says. “And I think you got to take it seriously.”
Malcolm X’s relationship with Ali represents a pivotal chapter in the young boxer’s life, as his growing political consciousness began to intersect with his public identity. Their connection illustrates how Ali’s transformation extended far beyond athletics, ultimately helping establish him as a figure whose influence reached into politics, culture, and social justice.
The cast also includes Giovanni Ribisi as Ali’s legendary trainer Angelo Dundee and Amin Joseph as heavyweight champion Sonny Liston, whose presence in the series reflects the competitive and personal challenges that shaped Ali’s early career.
The Greatest premieres November 4 on Prime Video.
