Jaalen Best leads Amazon’s The Greatest as Cassius Clay, portraying the boxer during the years before he became Muhammad Ali. The eight-episode first season begins with Clay winning gold at the 1960 Rome Olympics and follows his early professional ambitions as he builds toward a first shot at the heavyweight championship.
Best’s performance is the series’ standout. He captures Clay’s distinctive voice and showmanship while also showing quieter moments away from the public spotlight. The review also praises his physical work in the ring, including his movement and recreation of the boxer’s fighting style.
Created by Ben Watkins, the series surrounds Clay’s rise with a broad cast of figures who shaped or challenged his path. These include his family, trainer Angelo Dundee, heavyweight contender Sonny Liston, Malcolm X and Elijah Muhammad. The story also connects the boxing world to the civil rights movement, showing how ideas of progress differed among its characters.
The season takes a deliberate approach, building toward Clay’s first title opportunity and his growing connection to the Nation of Islam. While the review describes the series as ambitious and generally effective, it notes that some characterizations are thin, particularly among the women, and that the show sometimes makes its points with little subtlety. It also says the drama occasionally favors legend over ambiguity, including in its depiction of the story about Clay’s Olympic gold medal.
The review praises the boxing sequences for their detail and closeness to the historical record. It also highlights performances from Amin Joseph as Liston, Michael Ealy as Malcolm X, Omari Hardwick as Cassius Clay Sr. and Dana Gourrier as Odessa Clay, while noting that some supporting actors appear older than the people they portray.
The first season covers only an early chapter of Ali’s life. The review expresses hope that the series will continue, but no further seasons are confirmed in the material provided.
Sources: The Hollywood Reporter.