Prime Video's upcoming Muhammad Ali limited series, executive-produced by Michael B. Jordan, is stepping into the ring with expectations that extend far beyond simply telling the life story of one of boxing's greatest icons. With The Greatest set to premiere on November 4, the series inevitably invites comparisons to Will Smith's acclaimed portrayal of Ali more than two decades ago.

Few sports biopics have left as lasting an impression as Ali. Directed by Michael Mann, the 2001 film chronicled one of the most defining periods of Muhammad Ali's life, with Smith undergoing an extraordinary physical and emotional transformation to bring the heavyweight champion to life.

Now, as The Greatest prepares to introduce a new generation's take on Ali, the challenge isn't simply retelling a legendary story—it's following a performance that many still consider one of the finest of Will Smith's career.

When Ali arrived in 2001, audiences were not just watching another sports biopic. Michael Mann's film explored Muhammad Ali's rise inside and outside the boxing ring, capturing the fighter's charisma, convictions, and larger-than-life personality during one of the most turbulent chapters of his career.

Will Smith committed himself fully to the role, transforming physically while studying Ali's speech, movements and mannerisms to recreate one of the most recognizable figures in sports history. His performance earned widespread critical acclaim and an Academy Award nomination for Best Actor, cementing Ali as one of the defining performances of his career.

More than two decades later, Smith's portrayal continues to be the standard against which every on-screen depiction of Muhammad Ali is measured. That legacy is precisely what makes any new dramatization of the boxing legend such an ambitious undertaking.

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The good news for Prime Video, however, is that The Greatest isn't trying to remake Ali. Instead, it has an opportunity to tell a much broader story.

Unlike the 2001 film, The Greatest unfolds across eight episodes, giving the series significantly more time to explore Muhammad Ali's life beyond his biggest fights. The expanded format allows the story to delve deeper into his family, activism, humanitarian work and personal struggles alongside his legendary boxing career.

The project also carries a distinction that sets it apart from previous dramatizations. As the first authorized scripted series based on Ali's life, The Greatest is executive produced by his widow, Lonnie Ali, alongside Michael B. Jordan through his Outlier Society banner, adding another layer of authenticity to the production, which just released its first-ever trailer and announcement of the premiere.

With newcomer Jaalen Best stepping into one of the most demanding roles in sports drama, comparisons with Will Smith are inevitable. But rather than replacing an iconic performance, The Greatest has the chance to complement it by exploring chapters of Muhammad Ali's remarkable life that a single feature film simply didn't have time to tell.

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Do you think The Greatest can live up to the legacy of Will Smith's Ali? Let us know in the comments!