Peacock Developing Muhammad Ali Scripted Event Series 'Excellence: 8 Fights' Produced by Rege-Jean Page and Morgan Freeman

by Darian Scalamoni

    Muhammad Ali has had his fair share of portrayals on-screen over the years, including the Oscar-nominated performance from Will Smith back in 2001 for Ali. However, Peacock is aiming to get back into the ring, this time with a limited series.

    According to Deadline, Peacock is developing Excellence: 8 Fights, an eight-part scripted series surrounding the legendary boxing superstar Muhammad Ali, which will be based on the book, Ali: A Life from Jonathan Eig. The series doesn't currently have anyone cast as Ali, however, the talent behind the camera is immense. Kevin Willmott (BlacKkKlansman, Da 5 Bloods) will write the series while Morgan Freeman and Bridgerton star Rege-Jean Page will serve as producers for what Peacock is calling an "event series," trying to innovate and separate itself from other streaming services. 

    Excellence: 8 Fights will chronicle eight separate but defining moments throughout the life of Ali. Each episode will center around one of his bouts in the ring, though the theme of each will deal distinctly with Ali's inner battle with himself and the drama that surrounds his life outside the ring. It will essentially explore the ins and outs of the mind of one of the most influential, important and contentious individuals in American history.

    I'm incredibly excited to see this series come to fruition and think that the creative team behind it is a great start. As for who I'd like to see as Ali? I think Tyler James Williams, recent Emmy-winner from Abbott Elementary would have a great build to embody Ali as his younger self. However, if Williams couldn't handle the dramatic work, I also would love to see Kelvin Harrison Jr. play The Louisville Lip for the Peacock series.