Rakim Remembers His "Ultimate Hero," Muhammad Ali
LeBron James and Antoine Fuqua have teamed up for a multi-part documentary on the iconic boxer Muhammad Ali.
The series will focus on Ali's life and career, with the documentary using everything from archival footage and cinematic recreations, to never before seen photos and footage from private collections of the Ali family and others.
"It's tough to put into words how much it means to me to be a part of this project honoring the legacy and telling the extremely important story of the great Muhammad Ali," James said in a statement. "He transcended sports and used his platform to empower people, which paved the way for all athletes and people of every race and gender that came after him, myself included. It's important that his story continues for generations to come, and it's an honor for SpringHill Entertainment and me to be a part of this."
"Muhammad Ali meant many things to many people, and he is someone who had a deep impact on me from an early age," Fuqua added. "Being given the opportunity to tell his story, both inside and outside of the ring, is a privilege, and a dream come true, and I couldn't have found better partners than LeBron and HBO to help memorialize 'The Greatest of All Time.'"
The untitled documentary will debut on HBO, with James and Fuqua serving as executive producers (the latter also serves as the film's director).
James being attached to this documentary as an executive producer should not come as a surprise. The basketball player recently donated $2.5 million to the Muhammad Ali exhibit that is a part of the National Museum of African American History and Culture at the Smithsonian. Titled "Muhammad Ali: A Force For Change," the exhibit honors the legendary boxer who passed away in June of this year.
