Deadline reports that Peacock has an exciting project in development: “Excellence: 8 Fights,” an eight-part events series about boxing legend Muhammed Ali. But it’s more who’s involved with the series that’s exciting. “BlackKklansmen” co-writer Kevin Willmott will pen the series, and Morgan Freeman and Regé-Jean Page are on board to help produce.
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Willmott will write the series for the streamer, using Jonathan Eig‘s “Ali: A Life” as his primary source material. Eig will also help co-produce the project. Freeman co-produces with Lori McCreary through Revelations Entertainment, while Page executive produces with Emily Brown. CBS Studio and UCP will serve as the show’s studios.
As for who will play Ali in the series, there’s no one signed on at the moment. Page makes sense, given his involvement, but there’s currently no deal in place for him to play the boxer. Whoever ends up playing the iconic fighter will do so during eight defining moments in Ali’s life; one per episode. The premise will highlight not so much particular boxing matches in Ali’s career than the man’s internal struggles outside the ring.
Revelations and CBS Studios have had “Excellence: 8 Fights” in mind ever since Eig published his book in 2017. They acquired rights to Eig’s biography shortly after publication to develop a series. And CBS All Access nearly did so in Spring 2018, with writer Dan Kay, but it never materialized.
Now Willmott steers the craft for the Peacock series. An Oscar winner, Willmott’s recent work includes “Da 5 Bloods” for Spike Lee, “The 24th,” “Chi-Raq,” and “Jayhawkers.” As for when “Excellence: 8 Fights” premieres on Peacock, don’t expect it until late next year.
