Can Michael B Jordan’s Ali biopic go the distance after Will Smith’s 2001 knockout?

Prime Video is gearing up to tell Muhammad Ali's story again, and yeah, the bar could not be higher. The Greatest is an eight-episode limited series with Michael B. Jordan on board as executive producer, and the first trailer just landed on July 4, 2026. It debuts November 4 on Prime Video. Which means one thing: everyone is already thinking about Will Smith.

The Will Smith factor (and why it still looms)

Back in 2001, Michael Mann's Ali wasn’t just another sports biopic. It zeroed in on a turbulent, defining stretch of Ali's life and let Will Smith fully disappear into the role. He trained like crazy, nailed the cadence and the swagger, and turned in a performance that earned him an Oscar nomination for Best Actor and a mountain of critical love. More than 20 years later, that portrayal is still the measuring stick for any on-screen Ali. Fair or not, that’s the reality The Greatest is walking into.

What this new series is actually doing

"Before there was Ali, there was Clay."

• Format: Eight episodes, which gives the show room to go beyond the greatest-hits fights and dig into family, activism, humanitarian work, and the personal cost of being Ali.
• Authorization: This is the first authorized scripted series about Muhammad Ali's life.
• Who’s steering it: Executive producers include Michael B. Jordan (through his Outlier Society banner) and Ali's widow, Lonnie Ali.
• The lead: Newcomer Jaalen Best is stepping into the gloves as Ali.
• Tease and timing: The first trailer dropped July 4, 2026, with Prime Video confirming a November 4 premiere.

How it can stand on its own

The smart move here is that The Greatest isn’t trying to redo Mann’s film. A series can breathe in ways a single feature can’t, and Ali’s life absolutely warrants that space. If it leans into the off-the-mat chapters with the same intensity the film brought to the ring, it doesn’t have to beat Will Smith’s performance; it can complement it. And with Lonnie Ali involved and Jordan backing it, there’s a good chance the show hits the details fans care about.

Bottom line: the expectations are massive because of what came before, but the angle here is different enough to matter. If The Greatest sticks the landing, it could be the companion piece Ali’s story has been missing. Are you in?