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Jaalen Best Credits Michael B. Jordan in Ali Role

The 28-year-old actor says Jordan served as a mentor and source of support while he played Muhammad Ali in Prime Video's The Greatest.

Updated on Nov. 7, 2026 in Boxing

Expressive editorial sports illustration of a gestural boxer in profile inside a red-roped ring under warm overhead light, evoking the discipline of training.
Actor Jaalen Best says Michael B. Jordan mentored him and offered support while he prepared to play Muhammad Ali in Prime Video's The Greatest. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

Jaalen Best revealed that Michael B. Jordan mentored him and provided support during his preparation to play Muhammad Ali. Prime Video released The Greatest, an eight-episode limited series executive produced by Jordan through his Outlier Society banner, for streaming.

Why it matters

The series puts a fresh face on one of the most recognized figures in sports history, and Best's account highlights the physical and emotional demands of the role. The reported 18-month casting process shows the scale of the search for a lead.

The casting process ran 18 months and drew thousands of hopefuls before narrowing to a final four that included Best. The Greatest runs eight episodes.

The players

Jaalen Best

Jaalen Best is a 28-year-old actor who stars as Muhammad Ali in Prime Video's The Greatest.

Michael B. Jordan

Michael B. Jordan is an actor and filmmaker who executive produces The Greatest through his Outlier Society production banner.

The details

Best said he relied on Jordan for support during the physically demanding training process and regularly visited a masseuse after training for physical recovery. He also traveled to Louisville to meet Ali's widow, Lonnie, as part of his preparation.

Timeline

  1. October 27, 2026: The Greatest premiered in New York City.

  2. November 7, 2026: The series was streaming on Prime Video at the time of reporting.

Season Trajectory

Biographical dramas about Muhammad Ali have long drawn on his career inside and outside the ring. The Greatest extends that tradition with a new lead performer and a streaming-era release.

Viewers can stream all eight episodes of The Greatest on Prime Video now. The series dramatizes Ali's life for audiences who may be new to his career.

The takeaway

Portraying a sports icon demands sustained physical training and emotional support, as Best's account of his preparation shows. Audiences interested in Ali's life now have a new dramatized entry to watch.

Further reading

For more on the sport at the center of this series, see Boxing coverage on Wisevoter.

Source note: This article includes information reported by Complex.