THE GREATEST
A reflection on directing The Greatest, the new Muhammad Ali series, and the honor of standing inside a story shaped by faith, legacy, and becoming.
Yesterday, I had the honor of attending Essence Festival for a panel conversation about The Greatest, the first authorized scripted series about the life of Muhammad Ali.
The first season begins in 1960, when Ali, then Cassius Clay, wins Olympic gold, and follows him through 1964, when he becomes heavyweight champion for the first time. But what moved me most about the way this story is being told is that it is not only about the rise of a fighter. It is also an intimate coming-of-age story about a young Black man becoming himself before the world fully understood him.
The panel featured show creator Ben Watkins, along with cast members Jaalen Best, who portrays Cassius Clay/Muhammad Ali; Dana Gourrier, who plays his mother Odessa “Bird” Clay; Kai Parham, who plays his brother Rudy Clay; Amin Joseph, who plays Sonny Liston; and Michael Ealy, who appears as Malcolm X.
They also released the teaser to the world, and it is absolutely beautiful.
The Greatest premieres November 4 on Prime Video, and all episodes will be available to stream. I had the honor of directing Episodes 3 and 4, and I can honestly say this is one of the most meaningful and impactful projects I have ever been part of.
There are some opportunities that are special because of the scale of the work. Some are special because of the people involved. Some are special because of the story itself. And then there are the rare ones that meet you somewhere much deeper. This was one of those.
As a Black woman director, as a daughter of New Orleans, and as someone whose own life and spiritual foundation have been shaped by the Nation of Islam, being trusted to help tell this part of Muhammad Ali’s story meant more than I can fully put into words.
I was standing inside a story that connected to history, faith, memory, and one of our great heroes. I was directing scenes that carried a legacy I do not take lightly. And I remember feeling the weight of that responsibility, but also the blessing of it.
Watching the teaser yesterday and seeing one of my favorite scenes from my episodes woven so prominently throughout it was incredibly moving. The scene of Jaalen Best as Cassius Clay standing in the mirror, affirming who he is and who he is becoming, “I’m the fastest. I’m the strongest. I can’t be beat. I’m gonna be the youngest heavyweight champion ever” is a scene I had the honor of directing.
And to see that moment become part of the first glimpse the world receives of this series is something I will carry with me for a long time.
Jaalen Best steps into this role with such presence, spirit, and care.
I am deeply grateful to Ben Watkins. It’s an honor to build with him and his wonderful team over the past few years.
Muhammad Ali was not simply an athlete. He was a poet, a fighter, a believer, a truth-teller, a disruptor, and a man who understood the power of naming himself before the world was ready to fully see him. To help tell any part of that story is an honor.
The Greatest premieres November 4 on Prime Video. I cannot wait for the world to see it.
Stacey Muhammad is a writer, director, and daughter of New Orleans. Her lens is committed to the cinematic testimony of Black life and the unyielding brilliance of the Southern imagination. From her upcoming feature film, The Return, to her directing work on series including Amazon Prime’s CROSS, Queen Sugar, Power Book III: Raising Kanan, and Harlem, she tells stories where Black people are the architects of the narrative, not the scenery. She is the creator of The Director’s Notebook, a digital film school and creative sanctuary for those reclaiming their birthright through craft and truth.