Prime Video is expanding the cast of its upcoming drama series The Greatest with four familiar names in recurring roles: Giovanni Ribisi, Reno Wilson, Erica Tazel and Aleks Paunovic.
Ben Watkins’ (Cross) eight-part series offers an in-depth, personal portrait of boxing legend Muhammad Ali. The Greatest explores both the public highlights of Ali’s career and the more intimate, lesser-known moments of his life—as a husband, father, son, and brother.
Giovanni Ribisi
Giovanni Ribisi plays Angelo Dundee, Ali’s famed trainer during several phases of his career, and Reno Wilson plays Drew “Bundini” Brown, Ali’s flamboyant cornerman and inspiration for his legendary quote, “Float like a butterfly, sting like a bee.” Erica Tazel plays Geraldine Liston, wife of Sonny Liston until his death, and Aleks Paunovic stars as William Faversham Jr., a former financial backer of Ali who comes from an influential theater family.
Jaalen Best takes on the lead role of Ali, supported by a strong cast: Omari Hardwick and Dana Gourrier as his parents Cassius “Cash” Clay Sr. and Odessa “Bird” Clay, Kai Parham as his brother Rudy Clay, Amin Joseph as rival Sonny Liston, and Michael Ealy as Malcolm X in a recurring role.
The series promises to paint a nuanced and human portrait of Ali, focusing on his impact both inside and outside the ring. An official release date has not yet been announced.
Reno Wilson
Ribisi starred in the Prime Video series Sneaky Pete, but is best known as Frank Buffay, Jr., the brother of Lisa Kudrow’s Phoebe Buffay on the mega-popular NBC sitcom Friends. He also had roles in the Paramount+ limited series The Offer and Showtime’s Waco: The Aftermath.
Wilson has played Officer Carl McMillan on the CBS comedy series Mike & Molly, Stan Hill on the NBC crime comedy Good Girls, Detective Earl Booker on the Paramount+ limited series Fatal Attraction, and can be seen as Bobby Watt on Showtime’s Dexter: Original Sin.
Tazel is best known for her role as Deputy Rachel Brooks on FX’s Justified. She also had a series regular role on the first season of CBS All Access’ The Good Fight and had recurring roles on HBO’s Lovecraft Country and Apple TV+’s Truth Be Told (2019).
Paunovic had a recurring role as Borjan "Boki" Boscovic on TNT's Snowpiercer. He recently guest-starred on the third season of Prime Video's Reacher and previously had a series regular role on SyFy's Van Helsing.