The Muhammad Ali Only His Family Knew: Lonnie Ali, Jaalen Best, and Ben Watkins on The Greatest
Hollywood First Look sits down with Lonnie Ali, Jaalen Best, and Ben Watkins to explore The Greatest, Prime Video’s first authorized scripted series about Muhammad Ali, revealing the man behind the legendary boxer through intimate family memories and personal stories.
Lonnie reflects on watching Jaalen transform into the Muhammad Ali she knew away from the cameras and why his portrayal captures the humanity behind the icon. Jaalen opens up about the enormous responsibility of playing a young Cassius Clay and the personal commitment he made to deliver a performance he could be proud of for the rest of his life. Creator Ben Watkins reveals how conversations with Ali’s family and those closest to him brought unexpected details to the series, including his childhood nickname “G” and the surprisingly specific way he liked his cheeseburgers. Together, they offer a more personal look at one of the most celebrated figures in sports history.
Featured in this video:
Lonnie Ali (Executive Producer)
Jaalen Best (Cassius Clay / Muhammad Ali)
Ben Watkins (Creator / Showrunner / Executive Producer)
The Greatest premieres November 4, 2026, exclusively on Prime Video.
Correspondent/Producer: Kiyra Lynn
https://www.instagram.com/kiyralynn
Senior Producer: Kiyra Lynn
Editor: Mickey Martinez
