With a surname like Best, rising talent Jaalen Best was always destined for greatness.
Initially committed to playing basketball, he was encouraged by a teacher and his then-girlfriend to pursue acting. After a minor part in All American: Homecoming, and background roles as Hot Guy and Teammate #1 in American Horror Stories and the Magnum PI reboot respectively, he now finds himself starring as boxing icon Muhammad Ali in The Greatest.
The eight-part Prime Video series, which premieres today (4 November), is billed as "an intimate exploration of the incomparable life of the boxing champion, humanitarian and global icon".
Executive produced by Ali's wife Lonnie Ali, it is also "the first authorised scripted series about the life of Muhammad Ali, offering unprecedented access and going beyond the amazing victories and defeats that made Ali a legend, both in and out of the ring".
Speaking exclusively to Radio Times about his interactions with Ali's family, Best said: "I had an opportunity to not only meet Lonnie, but also their son Asaad and [their daughters] Hannah and Layla. Matter of fact, I just saw Hannah last night. She gave me this book that she wrote about her father.
"So having moments like that [really helped]."
Best also revealed that when he first met Lonnie, she FaceTimed Hannah so she could give him her blessing to play her late husband.
"And Hannah's first reaction when she saw me was, 'Is he related to Daddy?'" added Best.
"That moment reassured me that okay, I have the look. Now, it was just trying to get the essence."
Best said many of Ali's other children – he had nine in total – were "very much involved in this process as well".
"So it's special," he said, reflecting on the series's authenticity. Best also spoke with several of Ali's closest friends, including Louisville radio and television personality John Ramsey.
"He's incredible, and has a whole basement collection filled with Ali's things, a pinball machine with Muhammad Ali on it. It's incredible just seeing who Muhammad was to his close friends, to his people, the people who really knew him the best," he added.
"And I think the most surprising thing is that this man was so private, but is a public hero, you know? It just fascinated me.
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"Hearing all these amazing stories from people, it made him so much more than just a boxer, you know? It made him feel like a larger than life figure. That's exactly what he is."
Starring alongside Best, the cast of The Greatest includes Omari Hardwick, Dana Gourrier, Amin Joseph, Kai Parham, Giovanni Ribisi and Michael Ealy.
All eight episodes will drop in one go on Prime Video.
The Greatest premieres exclusively on Prime Video Wednesday 4 November. You can sign up to Amazon Prime Video for a 30-day free trial.
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