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WHATS THE WORD sits down with Jaalen Best, Lonnie Ali, Amin Joseph, Ben Watkins, Matthew Gross, Dana Gourrier and Kai Parham to explore the man behind the legend.
THE WORD
- The Greatest premieres November 4, 2026, with all eight episodes on Prime Video.
- WTW’s three interviews explore Ali’s private life, his come-up and his connection to Chicago.
- Lonnie Ali discusses the intimate side of her late husband that the series will reveal.
- Chicago native Kai Parham shares how family memories helped him prepare to portray Ali’s brother.
Chicago has its own memories of Muhammad Ali. For Kai Parham, those memories were close enough to ask about at home. In his conversation with WHATS THE WORD, the Chicago actor discussed turning to relatives who witnessed Ali’s time in the city as he prepared to portray the boxing legend’s brother in The Greatest.
That personal connection is one of several perspectives explored in WTW’s conversations with the cast and executive producers. Across three interviews, the discussion moves from Ali’s early rise to his family relationships and the person he was outside the spotlight.
A NEW LOOK AT ALI’S JOURNEY
According to Amazon’s official series announcement, The Greatest is the first authorized scripted series about Muhammad Ali’s life. All eight episodes premiere on Prime Video on November 4, 2026.
Ben Watkins serves as creator, showrunner and executive producer. Lonnie Ali, wife of the late Muhammad Ali, also serves as an executive producer.
The synopsis provided to WTW describes a coming-of-age story set against a changing America. The series follows a young talent from Louisville navigating personal, professional and political battles while fighting for the right to become his own man.
For audiences who know Ali through championship highlights and famous speeches, that approach creates an opportunity to follow the experiences and relationships surrounding his rise.
JAALEN BEST, LONNIE ALI AND AMIN JOSEPH ON THE MAN BEHIND THE LEGEND
In WTW’s first interview, Jaalen Best, Lonnie Ali and Amin Joseph discussed bringing Ali’s story to the screen and why it matters to the next generation. Best stars as Cassius Clay/Muhammad Ali, while Joseph portrays Sonny Liston.
Lonnie focused on the intimate side of her husband: a person with feelings, faults and aspirations to be a good father and husband. Her perspective brings the conversation into the moments audiences could not see from the stands or through a television broadcast.
“That man that is not under the spotlight, what was he like then?”— Lonnie Ali, speaking with WHATS THE WORD
She explained that the series will begin to show that side of him. Her comments invite viewers to consider Ali’s everyday humanity alongside the achievements and convictions that shaped his public legacy.
For the next generation, those personal details can provide another way into his story: understanding the person behind the name they have heard throughout their lives.
BEN WATKINS AND MATTHEW GROSS ON ALI’S COME-UP
Executive producers Ben Watkins and Matthew Gross joined WTW to discuss telling Ali’s story before he became a household name. Their conversation centered on the come-up and exploring the journey that preceded worldwide recognition.
That focus connects directly with the series’ coming-of-age premise. Before audiences encounter the fully formed legend, there is a young man developing his identity, finding his voice and navigating the world around him.
Watkins and Gross’s conversation gives viewers a starting point for approaching the series: paying attention to how that journey unfolds, including the experiences that help shape the person Ali becomes.
DANA GOURRIER AND KAI PARHAM EXPLORE ALI’S CHICAGO CONNECTION
WTW’s third interview paired Dana Gourrier, who portrays Ali’s mother, Odessa “Bird” Clay, with Kai Parham, who plays his brother, Rudy Clay. The conversation brought Ali’s time living in Chicago into focus.
Parham shared how relatives who witnessed those years helped him prepare. Their memories gave the Chicago native a personal connection to his research as he approached portraying someone within Ali’s family.
For Chicago audiences, that connection opens a conversation about the history preserved within families. Memories of seeing a public figure around the city can become stories passed from one generation to the next. In Parham’s case, those recollections also became part of preparing for a role.
Together, WTW’s three interviews offer different entry points into The Greatest: Ali’s formative years, his private relationships and the local memories that continue to connect people to his story.
FAST FACTS
- Series: The Greatest
- Platform: Prime Video
- Premiere: November 4, 2026; all eight episodes
- Creator and showrunner: Ben Watkins
- Muhammad Ali: Portrayed by Jaalen Best
- Production companies: Blue Monday Productions, Outlier Society, Authentic Studios, Roc Nation, Polygram Entertainment and Grace: A Storytelling Company
Be apart of the conversation: What do you hope to learn about Muhammad Ali beyond boxing? If your family has a memory of Ali in Chicago, share that story with us.
SOURCES
- Amazon: Official premiere, cast and production information for The Greatest
- The Greatest PR team: Synopsis and production credits supplied to WHATS THE WORD.
- WHATS THE WORD press junket coverage: Interview notes for all three conversations and the supplied Lonnie Ali clip transcript.
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