From Basketball Dreams to Muhammad Ali: Jaalen Best Lands His Defining Hollywood Role

Rising actor Jaalen Best is stepping into the spotlight as boxing legend Muhammad Ali in Prime Video's upcoming biographical series The Greatest, premiering November 4, 2026.

Before pursuing Hollywood, Best dreamed of a professional basketball career until an acting class at East Carolina University introduced him to a different creative path.

In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, the 28 year old actor reflected on his transition into entertainment and the challenging audition process that ultimately secured him the role of Ali.

After numerous auditions and a final meeting with series creator Ben Watkins, Best earned the opportunity to portray one of the most recognizable figures in sports history.

The production also received the involvement and support of Ali's widow, Lonnie Ali, who serves as an executive producer alongside a team that includes Michael B. Jordan's Outlier Society.

To prepare for the role, Best underwent extensive physical training while studying Ali's boxing techniques, distinctive voice, personality, and personal history.

The eight episode drama features Omari Hardwick, Dana Gourrier, Michael Ealy, Giovanni Ribisi, and Amin Joseph, exploring Ali's formative years and the personal experiences that shaped his extraordinary legacy.

With the series arriving worldwide on Prime Video, Best enters a major new chapter in his acting career through a performance centered on one of America's most influential cultural icons.