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Uncovering the Human Side of Muhammad Ali in Prime’s ‘The Greatest’

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NOV 04, 2026 at 04:00 AM EST

Portraying the most recognizable sports figure in human history is a daunting task, especially when it’s the first project explicitly sanctioned by his family. Jaalen Best, who plays a young Muhammad Ali in the new Prime original series The Greatest, joins writer and director Ben Watkins to discuss the immense weight of bringing a global legend to life.

Best opens up about channeling his on-set anxiety into the performance and the grueling physical transformation required for the role. "When I got the role, I had to cut down, my lowest was 163 to play [the] 18-year-old on camera. That's almost 40 pounds," Best shares.

Watkins breaks down his mission to look past the myth and showcase the boxer's vulnerabilities. "I didn't realize it, but I had deified Muhammad Ali," Watkins explains. "What we got to do is introduce you to this real person... They have flaws, and they overcome it. They have fears, and they push through."

Watch/listen to hear how Best and Watkins balanced the greatness of Ali with the weaker parts of his biography, and why Ali's unwavering convictions still resonate today. The Greatest is available to stream now on Prime.

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